Abstract: A blood analyzer configured to prevent an abnormal number of white blood cells caused by lipid particles or red blood cells of poor hemolysis from being output. The blood analyzer includes a system for obtaining a first white blood cell number and a system for obtaining a second white blood cell number. The analyzer also includes an output device for outputting the second white blood cell number, and a system for determining whether the second white blood cell number is abnormal. The output device is configured to output the first white blood cell number when the second white blood cell number has been determined to be abnormal.

Abstract: A method of staining bacteria comprises: working a polymethine dye on a sample in the presence of a substance capable of reducing nitrite ions to stain bacteria in the sample. A method of detecting bacteria comprises the following steps of: (1) working a polymethine dye on a sample by a method as described above to stain bacteria in the sample, (2) introducing the thus treated sample into a detecting part of a flow cytometer and irradiating cells of the stained bacteria one by one with light to measure scattered light and fluorescent light emitted from each of the cells; and (3) discriminating the bacteria from other components in accordance with an intensity of a scattered light signal and an intensity of a fluorescent light signal or a pulse width reflecting the length of particles to count the bacteria.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a detection unit for irradiating a biological sample with light and obtaining optical information; a cell classification processor for classifying cells contained in the biological sample into cell groups based on the optical information; a scattered light information obtaining processor for obtaining scattered light information relating to a cell included in a predetermined cell group; a calculation processor for calculating a component value corresponding to an amount of component contained in cell included in the predetermined cell group based on the scattered light information; and an output device for outputting the component value calculated by the calculation means is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for counting megakaryocytes in a specimen is described. In the method, first, erythrocytes in the specimen are lysed and nucleic acid in the megakaryocytes is stained with a fluorescent dye, and thereby, a measurement sample is prepared. Next, the cells in the measurement sample are irradiated with excited light so that the forward scattered light, the side scattered light and the fluorescence, which are emitted from the cells, are detected. Megakaryocytes are identified on the basis of the detected forward scattered light, the fluorescence and the side scattered light. Then, the identified megakaryocytes are counted.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a detection unit for irradiating a biological sample with light and obtaining optical information; a cell classification processor for classifying cells contained in the biological sample into cell groups based on the optical information; a scattered light information obtaining processor for obtaining scattered light information relating to a cell included in a predetermined cell group; a calculation processor for calculating a component value corresponding to an amount of component contained in cell included in the predetermined cell group based on the scattered light information; and an output device for outputting the component value calculated by the calculation means is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a detection unit for irradiating a biological sample with light and obtaining optical information; a cell classification processor for classifying cells contained in the biological sample into cell groups based on the optical information; a scattered light information obtaining processor for obtaining scattered light information relating to a cell included in a predetermined cell group; a calculation processor for calculating a component value corresponding to an amount of component contained in cell included in the predetermined cell group based on the scattered light information; and an output device for outputting the component value calculated by the calculation means is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for counting bacteria are described that include: (a) preparing an assay sample by staining a specimen using a fluorescent dye, thereby producing a difference in fluorescent intensity between live bacteria and dead bacteria; (b) detecting optical information from the assay sample; and (c) classifying and counting the live bacteria and the dead bacteria based on the detected optical information. Bacteria counting apparatuses and reagent kits for counting bacteria are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is to present a blood analyzer which can prevent an abnormal number of white blood cells caused by the lipid particles or the red blood cells of poor hemolysis from being output. The blood analyzer comprises: first white blood cell number obtaining means; second white blood cell number obtaining means; output means for outputting the number of the white blood cells obtained by the second white blood cell number obtaining means, and determining means for determining whether the number of the white blood cells obtained by the second white blood cell number obtaining means is abnormal, wherein the output means is configured to output the number of the white blood cells obtained by the first white blood cell number obtaining means when the determining means determines that the number of the white blood cells obtained by the second white blood cell number obtaining means is abnormal.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a detection unit for irradiating a biological sample with light and obtaining optical information; a cell classification processor for classifying cells contained in the biological sample into cell groups based on the optical information; a scattered light information obtaining processor for obtaining scattered light information relating to a cell included in a predetermined cell group; a calculation processor for calculating a component value corresponding to an amount of component contained in cell included in the predetermined cell group based on the scattered light information; and an output device for outputting the component value calculated by the calculation means is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of staining bacteria comprises: working a polymethine dye on a sample in the presence of a substance capable of reducing nitrite ions to stain bacteria in the sample. A method of detecting bacteria comprises the following steps of: (1) working a polymethine dye on a sample by a method as described above to stain bacteria in the sample, (2) introducing the thus treated sample into a detecting part of a flow cytometer and irradiating cells of the stained bacteria one by one with light to measure scattered light and fluorescent light emitted from each of the cells; and (3) discriminating the bacteria from other components in accordance with an intensity of a scattered light signal and an intensity of a fluorescent light signal or a pulse width reflecting the length of particles to count the bacteria.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a detection unit for irradiating a biological sample with light and obtaining optical information; a cell classification processor for classifying cells contained in the biological sample into cell groups based on the optical information; a scattered light information obtaining processor for obtaining scattered light information relating to a cell included in a predetermined cell group; a calculation processor for calculating a component value corresponding to an amount of component contained in cell included in the predetermined cell group based on the scattered light information; and an output device for outputting the component value calculated by the calculation means is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for counting megakaryocytes in a specimen is described. In the method, first, erythrocytes in the specimen are lysed and nucleic acid in the megakaryocytes is stained with a fluorescent dye, and thereby, a measurement sample is prepared. Next, the cells in the measurement sample are irradiated with excited light so that the forward scattered light, the side scattered light and the fluorescence, which are emitted from the cells, are detected. Megakaryocytes are identified on the basis of the detected forward scattered light, the fluorescence and the side scattered light. Then, the identified megakaryocytes are counted.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a detection unit for irradiating a biological sample with light and obtaining optical information; a cell classification processor for classifying cells contained in the biological sample into cell groups based on the optical information; a scattered light information obtaining processor for obtaining scattered light information relating to a cell included in a predetermined cell group; a calculation processor for calculating a component value corresponding to an amount of component contained in cell included in the predetermined cell group based on the scattered light information; and an output device for outputting the component value calculated by the calculation means is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of staining bacteria comprises: working a polymethine dye on a sample in the presence of a substance capable of reducing nitrite ions to stain bacteria in the sample. A method of detecting bacteria comprises the following steps of: (1) working a polymethine dye on a sample by a method as described above to stain bacteria in the sample, (2) introducing the thus treated sample into a detecting part of a flow cytometer and irradiating cells of the stained bacteria one by one with light to measure scattered light and fluorescent light emitted from each of the cells; and (3) discriminating the bacteria from other components in accordance with an intensity of a scattered light signal and an intensity of a fluorescent light signal or a pulse width reflecting the length of particles to count the bacteria.

Abstract: Methods for counting bacteria are described that include: (a) preparing an assay sample by staining a specimen using a fluorescent dye, thereby producing a difference in fluorescent intensity between live bacteria and dead bacteria; (b) detecting optical information from the assay sample; and (c) classifying and counting the live bacteria and the dead bacteria based on the detected optical information. Bacteria counting apparatuses and reagent kits for counting bacteria are also described.

Abstract: Reagents and a method for simple and rapid discrimination and counting of erythroblasts in peripheral blood or circulatory system-related samples accurately with high precision is disclosed. The reagents include a hemolytic agent for dissolving erythrocytes in a body fluid sample and for conditioning leukocytes and erythroblasts in the sample to be suitable for staining, and including at least one fluorescent dye selected to stain leukocytes and erythroblasts differentially. When the selected fluorescent dye is mixed with the sample, a detectable difference in fluorescence intensity at least between leukocytes and erythroblasts arises under laser illumination in flow cytometric analysis. The reagents further include surfactant added to the hemolytic agent, selected to enable flow cytometric discrimination of erythroblasts in the body fluid sample by their maturation stages.

Abstract: A particle analyzing apparatus outputs a measurement result with high reliability with respect to a measurement item. The particle analyzing apparatus includes a measuring part, a judgement processing part, and an output part. The measuring part includes a fluid part, a control part, a first measuring part, a second measuring part, a hystogram preparing part, and a scattergram preparing part. The fluid part sucks up a blood sample in a test tube by a pipette. The control part controls the fluid part, the first measuring part, and the second measuring part. Measurement data measured by the first measuring part and the second measuring part are sent to the judgement processing part, and after judgement is made in the judgement processing part, a measurement result is outputted by the output part. The first measuring part makes measurement on the basis of an impedance system, and the second measuring part makes measurement on the basis of a flow cytometory system.

Abstract: A method of staining bacteria comprises: working a polymethine dye on a sample in the presence of a substance capable of reducing nitrite ions to stain bacteria in the sample. A method of detecting bacteria comprises the following steps of: (1) working a polymethine dye on a sample by a method as described above to stain bacteria in the sample, (2) introducing the thus treated sample into a detecting part of a flow cytometer and irradiating cells of the stained bacteria one by one with light to measure scattered light and fluorescent light emitted from each of the cells; and (3) discriminating the bacteria from other components in accordance with an intensity of a scattered light signal and an intensity of a fluorescent light signal or a pulse width reflecting the length of particles to count the bacteria.

Abstract: Improved method for detecting and/or counting the appearance of hematopoietic progenitor cells which comprises the steps of mixing a blood sample with a reagent capable of detecting immature cells without employing any immunological techniques, obtaining cell information about the thus treated sample using a particle analyzer and constructing a cell distribution profile, delineating a portion of the profile as a zone in which at least one subclass of hematopoietic progenitor cells appear, and counting the cells within the zone. The method is capable of detecting the appearance of hematopoietic progenitor cells in a simple and positive manner.

Abstract: A reagent for measurement of leukocytes and hemoglobin concentration in the blood includes a cationic surfactant in an amount sufficient to lyse erythrocytes and denature hemoglobin, at least one of the following hemoglobin stabilizers: (a) sulfosalicylic acid, or its salt, in an amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, (b) 0.2 to 10.0 g/L of a water-soluble chelating agent having a nitrogen atom and a carboxyl group, and (c) piperazine, or its salt, in an amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, and a buffer for maintaining pH at 4 to 6.