Consumable tube for use with a flow cytometry-based hematology system

A disposable vessel for use in a flow cytometry-based hematology system, comprising:

• a disposable tube having two closed ends;
• a known number of reference particles in said disposable tube, each of said reference particles having one of a plurality of predetermined diameters such that when said reference particles are illuminated by light from a laser, said light is scattered by said reference particles such that said scattered light falls into one of a plurality of predetermined light scatter channels;
• and
• at least one reagent in said disposable tube.

A disposable vessel for use in a flow cytometry-based hematology system, comprising:

• a closed disposable tube having two closed ends;
• a known number of reference particles in said disposable tube, each of said reference particles having a diameter of 4.0±0.5 microns;
• a label fixable onto a surface of said closed disposable tube, said label containing information relating to the contents of said disposable tube;
• and
• at least one reagent in said closed tube, said reagent being effective to enable said flow cytometry-based hematology system to measure at least one of a red blood cell count, a reticulocyte count, a platelet count, a two-part white blood cell differential, a five-part white blood cell differential, and hemoglobin concentration.

A consumable tube comprising:

• a disposable tube member having two closed ends;
• one or more reference particles disposed within the disposable tube member;
• a reticulocyte dye disposed within the disposable tube member;
• a surfactant disposed within the disposable tube member;
• and
• a label affixed to an outer surface of the disposable tube member, said label having information relating to at least the reference particles and the reticulocyte dye.