Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for determining a property of a bodily sample using a microscope and optical-density-measurement apparatus, the apparatus including a sample carrier that includes a plurality of microscopy sample chambers configured to receive a first portion of the sample and to facilitate imaging of the first portion of the sample by the microscope, each of the microscopy sample chambers having an upper and a lower surface, and having respective heights between the upper and lower surfaces that are different from each other. The sample carrier includes at least one optical-density-measurement chamber configured to receive a second portion of the sample, and to facilitate optical density measurements being performed optical-density-measurement apparatus upon the second portion of the sample. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a sample carrier (22) configured to carry a portion of a bodily sample, at least a portion of the sample carrier being configured to fluoresce, at least under certain conditions. An optical measurement device (24) performs optical measurements upon the portion of the bodily sample that is housed within the sample carrier (22), and at least partially photobleaches an area within the portion of the sample carrier (22) by causing the area to fluoresce. By detecting that the area within the portion of the sample carrier (22) has been photobleached, an output is generated indicating that at least a portion of the sample carrier (22) is contaminated or that optical measurements cannot be performed on the portion of the sample carrier (22), or the optical measurement device (24) is prevented from performing optical measurements upon a sample portion housed within the given portion of the sample carrier (22).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including placing a sample into a sample carrier that comprises a plurality of regions having upper and lower surfaces, having respective heights that are different from each other, and being configured such that cells form a monolayer, the monolayer within respective regions of the sample carrier having respective, different densities from each other, due to the respective regions of the sample carrier having respective heights that are different from each other. Microscopic images are acquired of each of the plurality of regions. Measurements are performed upon cell types that have a relatively high density upon microscopic images of a region of the sample chamber having a relatively low height, and measurements are performed upon cell types that have a relatively low density upon microscopic images of a region of the sample chamber having a relatively great height. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an output device, and a blood sample that was drawn from a subject. A microscope system acquires first and second images of the blood sample at respective times. A computer processor determines whether, between acquisitions of the first and second images, there was relative motion between at least one erythrocyte within the sample and at least one entity within the sample, by comparing the first and second images to one another. At least partially in response thereto, the computer processor determines whether the entity is an extra-erythrocytic or an intra-erythrocytic entity, and generates an output on the output device, at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an output device (34), and a blood sample (12) that was drawn from a subject. A microscope system (10) acquires first and second images of the blood sample at respective times. A computer processor (28) determines whether, between acquisitions of the first and second images, there was relative motion between at least one erythrocyte within the sample and at least one entity within the sample, by comparing the first and second images to one another. At least partially in response thereto, the computer processor determines whether the entity is an extra-erythrocytic or an intra-erythrocytic entity, and generates an output on the output device, at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining a property of a bodily sample using a microscope are described. A sample carrier includes a plurality of microscopy sample chambers configured to receive a least a portion of the bodily sample, while the sample is imaged by the microscope. Each of the microscopy sample chambers has an upper and a lower surface, and the microscopy sample chambers have respective heights between the upper and lower surfaces that are different from each other. The sample carrier defines a microscopy sample chamber inlet hole, that is fluid communication with all of the microscopy sample chambers, such as to facilitate filling of all of the microscopy sample chambers with the portion of the bodily sample, via the microscopy sample chamber inlet hole. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for determining a property of a bodily sample using a microscope and optical-density-measurement apparatus, the apparatus including a sample carrier that includes a plurality of microscopy sample chambers configured to receive a first portion of the sample and to facilitate imaging of the first portion of the sample by the microscope, each of the microscopy sample chambers having an upper and a lower surface, and having respective heights between the upper and lower surfaces that are different from each other. The sample carrier includes at least one optical-density-measurement chamber configured to receive a second portion of the sample, and to facilitate optical density measurements being performed optical-density-measurement apparatus upon the second portion of the sample. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining a property of a bodily sample using a microscope are described. A sample carrier includes a plurality of microscopy sample chambers configured to receive a least a portion of the bodily sample, while the sample is imaged by the microscope. Each of the microscopy sample chambers has an upper and a lower surface, and the microscopy sample chambers have respective heights between the upper and lower surfaces that are different from each other. The sample carrier defines a microscopy sample chamber inlet hole, that is fluid communication with all of the microscopy sample chambers, such as to facilitate filling of all of the microscopy sample chambers with the portion of the bodily sample, via the microscopy sample chamber inlet hole. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including analyzing one or more microscopic images of the blood sample using a machine-learning classifier. An entity within the one or more microscopic images is identified using a first classification model, and a first estimated concentration of the entity within the sample is determined, based upon the entity as identified using the first classification model. The entity is identified within the one or more microscopic images using a second classification model, and a second estimated concentration of the entity within the sample is determined, based upon the entity as identified using the second classification model. The first and second estimated concentrations are compared to each other, and, in response to the comparison, a hybrid classification model that is a hybrid of the first and second classification models is used. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a blood sample. Using a microscope (24), three images of a microscopic imaging field of the blood sample are acquired, each of the images being acquired using respective, different imaging conditions, and the first one of the three images being acquired under violet-light brightfield imaging. Using at least one computer processor (28), an artificial color microscopic image of the microscopic imaging field is generated, by mapping the first one of the three images to a red channel of the artificial color microscopic image, mapping a second one of the three images to a second color channel of the artificial color microscopic image, and mapping a third one of the three images to a third color channel of the artificial color microscopic image. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described use with a bodily sample that contains cells. A microscope (24) is focused, such that a focal plane of the microscope (24) at least approximately coincides with a level at which at least some cells belonging to the sample are at least partially disposed. At least one on-focus microscopic image of the sample, while the focal plane of the microscope (24) approximately coincides with the level. The microscope (24) is focused such that the focal plane of the microscope is offset with respect to the level, at least one off-focus microscopic image of the sample is acquired, while the focal plane of the microscope (24) is offset with respect to the level. A property of at least a portion of the sample is determined, at least partially based upon the on-focus and off-focus images. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided including imaging a blood sample that is a cell suspension deposited in a sample chamber. The cells are allowed to settle in the sample chamber to form a monolayer of cells. At least one microscopic image is acquired of the monolayer of cells using a microscope (24) while the microscope is focused at a monolayer-depth-level, and a first platelet count of platelets that have settled within the monolayer, is determined. An additional microscopic image of the simple is acquired, while the microscope is focused at a different depth level from the monolayer-depth-level, and a second platelet count of platelets that have not settled within the monolayer is determined. An output is generated based upon the first and second platelet counts. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including preparing a blood sample for analysis by depositing the blood sample within a sample chamber (52), and placing the sample chamber, with the blood sample deposited therein, within a microscopy unit (24). One or more microscopic images of the sample chamber (52) with the blood sample deposited therein are acquired, using a microscope of the microscopy unit. Based upon the one or more images, an amount of one or more cell types within the sample chamber that had already settled within the sample chamber, prior to acquisition of the one or more microscopic images is determined. A characteristic of the sample is determined, at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including placing at least a portion of a blood sample within a sample chamber (52), and acquiring microscopic images of the portion of the blood sample. Candidates of a given entity within the blood sample are identified, within the microscopic image. At least some of the candidates as being the given entity are validated, by performing further analysis of the candidates. A count of the candidates of the given entity is compared to a count of the validated candidates of the given entity, and at least the portion of the sample is invalidated from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of candidates and the count of validated candidates. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a microscopy unit that comprises an objective lens and a microscope camera. A cantilever includes an objective lens housing. A motor moves the cantilever along a direction of the optical axis of the objective lens. The cantilever is configured, during the movement of the cantilever, to support the objective lens within the objective lens housing such that an optical axis of the objective lens is aligned with the camera, without the objective lens being directly connected to the camera. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for determining a property of a biological sample. A sample carrier (22) includes one or more sample chambers (40) that define at least a first region (42) and a second region (44), the height of the one or more sample chambers varying between the first and second regions in a predefined manner. A computer processor (28) receives data relating to a first optical measurement that is performed upon a portion of the sample that is disposed within the first region, receives data relating to a second optical measurement that is performed upon a portion of the sample that is disposed within the second region, and determines the property of the sample by using a relationship between the first optical measurement, the second optical measurement, and the predefined variation in height between the regions. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including measuring hematocrit within a blood sample, by performing a first measurement on a first portion of the blood sample. Mean corpuscular volume in the blood sample is measured, by performing a second measurement on a second portion of the blood sample, the second portion being diluted with respect to the first portion. A red blood cell count per unit volume within the blood sample is determined by dividing the hematocrit measured within the first portion by the mean corpuscular volume measured within the second portion. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a blood sample (48, 50), including measuring hemoglobin concentration within at least a portion (48) of the blood sample, by performing a first measurement on the blood sample. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin in the blood sample (48, 50) is measured, by performing a second measurement on the blood sample (48, 50). A parameter of the blood sample is determined, based on a relationship between the concentration of hemoglobin and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining a property of a bodily sample using a microscope are described. A sample carrier includes a plurality of microscopy sample chambers configured to receive a least a portion of the bodily sample, while the sample is imaged by the microscope. Each of the microscopy sample chambers has an upper and a lower surface, and the microscopy sample chambers have respective heights between the upper and lower surfaces that are different from each other. The sample carrier defines a microscopy sample chamber inlet hole, that is fluid communication with all of the microscopy sample chambers, such as to facilitate filling of all of the microscopy sample chambers with the portion of the bodily sample, via the microscopy sample chamber inlet hole. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including placing a sample into a sample carrier that comprises a plurality of regions having upper and lower surfaces, having respective heights that are different from each other, and being configured such that cells form a monolayer, the monolayer within respective regions of the sample carrier having respective, different densities from each other, due to the respective regions of the sample carrier having respective heights that are different from each other. Microscopic images are acquired of each of the plurality of regions. Measurements are performed upon cell types that have a relatively high density upon microscopic images of a region of the sample chamber having a relatively low height, and measurements are performed upon cell types that have a relatively low density upon microscopic images of a region of the sample chamber having a relatively great height. Other applications are also described.