Method and apparatus for performing automated analysis

An automated method for distinguishing and differentiating cells in a whole blood sample with an automated instrument system capable of performing both hematology analysis and fluorescent cytometry analysis to which a whole blood sample is provided, the automated method comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting a series of one or more tests to be performed on the whole blood sample by the automated instrument system;
• (b) correlating the one or more tests to be performed on the whole blood sample by the automated instrument system;
• (c) aspirating a volume of the whole blood sample;
• (d) dispensing an aliquot of the whole blood sample into at least two sample receiving vessels;
• (e) diluting a first aliquot of the whole blood sample with a diluent reagent thereby producing a diluted sample in one of the at least two sample receiving vessels;
• (f) lysing a second aliquot of the whole blood sample with a lysing reagent thereby producing a lysed sample in another one of the at least two sample receiving vessels;
• (g) transporting an aliquot of the diluted sample through a flow transducer of the automated instrument system;
• (h) detecting and counting red blood cells in the aliquot of the diluted sample with the flow transducer;
• (i) transporting an aliquot of the lysed sample through the flow transducer;
• (j) detecting multi-angle light scatter from the aliquot of lysed sample and counting and differentiating white blood cells ("WBC") therein with the flow transducer;
• (k) detecting multi-angle light scatter and fluorescence from the lysed sample or the diluted sample and counting and differentiating nucleated red blood cells or reticulocytes or both therein with the flow transducer;
• (l) storing flow transducer detecting and differentiating data for the tests performed on the whole blood sample;
• and
• (m) reporting results of each test performed on the whole blood sample,
• wherein the automated instrument system automatedly performs method steps (b) through (m) without physically separating cells from the whole blood sample or an aliquot thereof and results of hematology analysis are utilized in at least reporting of the results of the fluorescent cytometry analysis.