The inventors initially participated to the identification of LPIN1 mutations as a cause for massive rhabdomyolysis episodes in children, triggered by febrile illness. The inventors have suggested that TLR9 antagonists would be suitable for the treatment of rhabdomyolysis (WO2017085115). The inventors thus treated 2 patients with lipin-1 disease by a TRL9 antagonist (hydroxychloroquine). They showed that the accumulation of mtDNA in plasma of the two patients before treatment decreases under treatment. When the treatment was stopped, the accumulation of mtDNA reappeared, then normalized when treatment was resumed. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether a patient suffering from rhabdomyolysis achieves a response with a TLR9 antagonist comprising determining the amount of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in a blood sample obtained from the patient (e.g. by PCR).

This invention describes a method for preparation of stable hematology reference materials by producing synthetic hydrogel blood cell surrogates, which mimic human blood components in size, morphology, performance and functionality when analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer employing multiple detection technologies. Different hydrogel particles can be combined and mixed to prepare multi-parameter and multi-level hematology reference materials, which could be used for calibration, linearity verification, proficiency evaluation, and routine performance monitoring of modern automated hematology analyzers. These hydrogel particles can also be combined with processed and stabilized human blood components to prepare the reference materials of this invention.

The preparation and use of systems to provide surrogate whole blood controls using coagulation modifiers to simulate human whole blood in coagulation assays are disclosed.

Preparations containing deep-frozen blood are used for test procedures for determining blood response.

A joint point-of-care testing (POCT) analyzer, and a system comprising an analyzer and a cartridge, for measuring one or more analyte quantities per unit volume of blood and one or more formed element quantities per unit volume of blood, is described. Examples of formed elements of blood are red blood cells and white blood cells, and cell counts are determined by imaging using a two-dimensional multi-channel detector. Examples of analytes are hemoglobin and bilirubin, and hemoglobin and bilirubin concentrations are determined by spectroscopy using a one-dimensional multi-channel detector. Other examples of analytes are electrolytes, and electrolyte concentrations may be determined using biosensors incorporated in the cartridges.

The present invention relates to a method of simultaneously diagnosing active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) using one or more biomarkers selected from a white blood cell count, a hemoglobin concentration, a neutrophil count, a lymphocyte count, a monocyte count, a procalcitonin concentration, a C-reactive protein concentration, an α1-acid glycoprotein concentration and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or a combination thereof. The present invention may provide a diagnostic method for simultaneously differentiating active tuberculosis and LTBI without a separate additional test on a patient diagnosed as positive by a conventional tuberculosis infection assay such as a tuberculin skin test (TST) or an interferon-γ release assay (IGRA).

Inline classification of a biological specimen including mammalian cells can include generating an alternating current (AC) electrical stimulus to an electrode structure. The electrode structure can be electrically coupled with a flow cell. A response, elicited by the electrical stimulus, can be received when a model specimen class traverses the flow cell. Using the received response, a corresponding impedance parameter value can be determined, the value indicative of a specified biophysical characteristic corresponding to the model specimen class. The first impedance parameter can be translated to a value corresponding to the specified biophysical characteristic.

The invention relates to cell death of cancer cells, and in particular to biomarkers that may be used to identify cancer cells that are sensitive to death receptor ligand (DRL)-induced cell death. The invention also extends to prognostic methods and kits for identifying cancer cells that are sensitive to DRL-induced cell death. The invention further extends to novel compositions and therapeutic methods using such compositions for treating cancer.

A method of generating smear quality control information according to an embodiment may include: obtaining a plurality of image data from a plurality of smears, respectively; obtaining, from the plurality of image data, feature values each of which reflects a staining state of each smear; and generating quality control information based on the feature values.

A method of quality control of a specimen prepared from a sample according to an embodiment may include: setting, from a control index information (MII) in which a plurality of indexes for the specimen are respectively associated with control values corresponding to the plurality of indexes, at least one index to be used for quality control of the specimen; obtaining a feature value relating to the at least one index from image data of the specimen; and outputting quality control information of the specimen based on the feature value and a control value associated with the at least one index.