Analysis of quiescent anticoagulated whole blood samples

A method for measuring components of a complete blood count in a substantially undiluted quiescent sample of anticoagulated whole blood which is admixed with one or more colorants which are effective to differentially highlight various formed cellular constituents in the blood sample and also to color plasma in the blood sample, said blood sample and colorants being disposed in an at least partially transparent container having at least first and second regions which are in fluid communication with each other, said first region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain either individual red blood cells or monolayers of red blood cells or rouleaux of red blood cells, and plasma lacunae;

• and said second region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain white blood cells, said method comprising the steps of:
• a) scanning a plurality of fields of view in said first region with an optical instrument having a known area for each field of view while illuminating said first region with selected wavelengths of light;
• b) calculating various red blood cell parameters as a function of calculated and measured signal intensities emanating from said plurality of fields of view in said first region;
• c) scanning said second region with said optical instrument while illuminating said second region with said selected wavelengths of light;
• and
• d) counting individual white cells in selected fields of view in said second region and determining the volume of said selected fields of view so as to derive a volumetric white cell count per unit volume of the blood sample.

A method for measuring components of a complete blood count in a substantially undiluted quiescent sample of anticoagulated whole blood which is admixed with one or more colorants which are effective to differentially highlight various formed cellular constituents in the blood sample and also to color plasma in the blood sample, said blood sample and colorants being disposed in an at least partially transparent container having at least first and second regions which are in fluid communication with each other, said first region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain either individual red blood cells or monolayers of red blood cells or rouleaux of red blood cells, and plasma lacunae;

• and said second region, having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain white blood cells, said method comprising the steps of:
• a) scanning a plurality of fields of new in said first region with an optical instrument having a known area for each field of view while illuminating said first region with selected wavelengths of light;
• and
• b) calculating various red blood cell parameters as a function of calculated and measured signal intensities emanating from said plurality fields of view in said first region.

A method for measuring components of a complete blood count in a substantially undiluted quiescent sample of anticoagulated whole blood which is admixed with one or more colorants which are effective to differentially highlight various formed cellular constituents in the blood sample and also to color plasma in the blood sample, said blood sample and colorants being disposed in an at least partially transparent container having at least first and second regions which are in fluid communication with each other, said first region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain either individual red blood cells or monolayers of red blood cells or rouleaux of red blood cells, and plasma lacunae;

• said second region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain white blood cells, said method comprising the steps of:
• a) scanning a plurality of fields of view in said first region with an optical instrument having a known area for each field of view while illuminating said first region with selected wavelengths of light;
• and
• b) scanning said second region with said optical instrument while illuminating said second region with said selected wavelengths of light;
• and
• c) counting individual white cells in selected fields of view in said second region and determining the volume of said selected fields of view so as to derive a white cell count per unit volume of the blood sample.

A method for measuring components of a complete blood count in a substantially undiluted quiescent sample of anticoagulated whole blood which is admixed with one or more colorants which are effective to differentially highlight various formed cellular constituents in the blood sample and also to color plasma in the blood sample, said blood sample and colorants being disposed in an at least partially transparent container having at least first and second regions which are in fluid communication with each other, said first region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain either individual red blood cells or monolayers of red blood cells or rouleaux of red blood cells, and plasma lacunae;

• and said second region having a through plane thickness which is sized to contain white blood cells, said method comprising the steps of:
• a) scanning selected fields of view in said first region with an optical instrument having a known area for each field of view, while illuminating said first region with selected wavelengths of light, so as to differentially highlight various cellular formed constituents in the blood sample which are located in said fields of view;
• and
• b) deriving information regarding the differentially highlighted formed constituents which are located in said selected fields of view in said first region.