Blood analysis systems and methods

A method of determining the presence or absence of a substance in a sample, the method comprising:

• applying the sample to a surface of a substrate having a binding agent immobilized thereon, wherein the binding agent is capable of binding to the substance in the sample;
• removing unbound material from at least a portion of the substrate having immobilized binding agent;
• and
• responsive to detecting the substance bound to the binding agent immobilized on the substrate, identifying the substance present in the sample;
• and responsive to not detecting the substance bound to the binding agent immobilized on the substrate, determining that the substance is absent in the sample;
• wherein the applying the sample to the surface of the substrate step is concurrent with the removing unbound material from at least a portion of the substrate step.

A system comprising:

• a substrate having a binding agent immobilized in discreet locations, wherein the binding agent is capable of binding to a substance in a sample;
• a dispenser configured to simultaneously dispense the sample onto the substrate and to remove unbound material from the substrate;
• a light source configured to illuminate the substrate;
• and
• a detector configured to detect the presence or absence of the substance bound to the binding agent.

A method of cross-matching comprising:

• applying donor red blood cells to a surface of a substrate having a binding agent immobilized thereon, wherein the binding agent is capable of binding to the donor red blood cells;
• removing unbound donor red blood cells from at least a portion of the substrate having immobilized binding agent;
• wherein the applying the donor red blood cells to the surface of the substrate step is concurrent with the removing unbound donor red blood cells from at least a portion of the substrate step;
• depositing patient plasma on top of the donor red blood cells;
• and
• removing an unbound portion of the patient plasma;
• wherein the depositing a patient plasma step is concurrent with the removing unbound portion of the patient plasma step;
• responsive to detecting an antibody bound to the donor red blood cells, determining that the antibody is present in the patient plasma;
• and
• responsive to not detecting the antibody bound to the donor red blood cells, determining that the antibody is absent in the patient plasma.

A system for cross-matching comprising:

• a substrate having donor red blood cells immobilized in discreet locations thereon;
• a dispenser configured to simultaneously dispense donor red blood cells or patient plasma onto the substrate and to remove unbound donor RBCs or an unbound portion of the patient plasma from the substrate;
• a light source configured to illuminate the substrate;
• and
• a detector configured to detect the presence or absence of antibodies bound to the donor red blood cells.