Performing optical measurements on a sample

Apparatus for use with a blood sample, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one computer processor configured to:
• measure hematocrit in the blood sample, by performing a first measurement on a first portion of the blood sample;
• measure mean corpuscular volume in the blood sample, by performing a second measurement on a second portion of the blood sample, the second portion being diluted with respect to the first portion;
• determine a red blood cell count per unit volume within the blood sample, by dividing the hematocrit measured within the first portion by the mean corpuscular volume measured within the second portion;
• and
• determine counts of one or more components per unit volume within the blood sample, based on the red blood cell count per unit volume within the blood sample, by:
• analyzing a microscopic image of at least one of the first and second portions of the blood sample, such as to determine a count of the one or more components and count of red blood cells within the at least one of the first and second portions of the blood sample,
• determining a ratio between the count of the one or more components and the count of red blood cells within the at least one of the first and second portions of the blood sample, and
• determining the count of the one or more components per unit volume within the blood sample by multiplying the red blood cell count per unit volume by the ratio.

A computer software product, for use with a blood sample, the computer software product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer cause the computer to perform the steps of:

• measuring hematocrit within the blood sample, by performing a first measurement on a first portion of the blood sample;
• measuring mean corpuscular volume in the blood sample, by performing a second measurement on a second portion of the blood sample, the second portion being diluted with respect to the first portion;
• and
• determining a red blood cell count per unit volume within the blood sample, by dividing the hematocrit measured within the first portion by the mean corpuscular volume measured within the second portion;
• and
• determining counts of one or more components per unit volume within the blood sample, based on the red blood cell count per unit volume within the blood sample, by:
• analyzing a microscopic image of at least one of the first and second portions of the blood sample, such as to determine a count of the one or more components and count of red blood cells within the at least one of the first and second portions of the blood sample,
• determining a ratio between the count of the one or more components and the count of red blood cells within the at least one of the first and second portions of the blood sample, and
• determining the count of the one or more components per unit volume within the blood sample by multiplying the red blood cell count per unit volume by the ratio.