Measurement apparatus

A measurement apparatus operable to measure a blood sample, comprising:

• a reagent storage unit configured to accommodate a first container storing a diluent to dilute a blood sample and a second container storing a hemolytic agent to lyse red blood cells contained in the blood sample;
• a transport unit arranged above the reagent storage unit, wherein the transport unit includes a first region and a second region on which the blood sample is placed and the transport unit is configured to transport the placed blood sample;
• a measurement unit configured to measure the blood sample transported from the first region and to discharge the measured blood sample to the second region;
• a supply unit configured to supply the diluent and the hemolytic agent to the measurement unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the transport unit, the measurement unit, and the supply unit,
• wherein the measurement unit includes:
• a third container storing a staining solution to stain the blood sample;
• a first chamber configured for mixing the diluent supplied from the first container and the blood sample to prepare a first measurement sample;
• a second chamber configured for mixing the hemolytic agent supplied from the second container, the blood sample, and the staining solution to prepare a second measurement sample;
• and
• a measuring section including an electrical signal detector to interrogate the first measurement sample to obtain an electrical signal and an optical signal detector to interrogate the second measurement sample to obtain an optical signal,
• wherein the measurement unit is configured to obtain the electrical signal and the optical signal for 300 to 500 blood samples per hour according to a measurement order for each of the blood samples, the measurement order including:
• (1) a first measurement item including red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count;
• and
• (2) a second measurement item of five-part white blood cell differential counting, and to provide a measurement result based on the obtained electrical signal and the optical signal, and
• wherein the supply unit is configured to continue the supply of the diluent while the first container is being replaced and to continue the supply of the hemolytic agent while the second container is being replaced.