Abstract: A method of producing low hemoglobin concentration cell percentage (LHCC %) and the method of use for detection of iron deficiency have been disclosed. LHCC % is a sigmoid function of mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), which correlates linearly with hypochromic red cell percentage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing biological cell samples for intracellular analysis. The invention is based upon the recognition that many of the steps of the conventional methods for such sample preparation can be eliminated, leading to a process that readily lends itself to automation and the advantages associated therewith. The method of the invention comprises the steps of (a) cell-fixation, (b) permeabilization and (c) staining (or labeling) of intracellular molecules of interest by probes that are readily detectable by flow cytometric techniques, all without any intervening cell-washing (and re-suspension) steps. Rather, the single cell-washing step is effected after these three steps have been carried out. Preferably, the washing step is carried out by passing the fixed, permeabilized and stained cell sample through a semi-permeable membrane that serves to filter out (by transmission) interferants to waste while retaining the cells of interest.

Abstract: A reference control composition containing a nucleated red blood cell component and the method of making are disclosed. The reference control composition includes a nucleated red blood cell component made of fixed non-nucleated blood cells and a suspension medium. The non-nucleated blood cell has a natural cell size substantially similar to a size of nucleus of said nucleated red blood cell of said blood sample. The nucleated red blood cell component can be made of equine, ovine, bovine, feline, canine, or porcine red blood cells; and it is substantially free of nucleic acid. The reference control composition can further include a white blood cell component, a red blood cell component, a platelet component, a reticulocyte component, or combinations thereof. Further disclosed are the methods of using the reference control composition for measurement of nucleated red blood cells on a blood analyzer.

Abstract: A method for discriminating and quantifying platelets within an analyzed blood sample involves initially diluting the blood sample with a ghosting reagent that causes a change in the index of refraction of the red blood cells. Owing to the change in the index of refraction, light scattered from the ghosted red blood cells will be substantially reduced relative to light scattered from platelets. This results in locations of platelets within a scatterplot of the analyzed blood sample to fall within a region distinguishable from those containing normal red blood cells, fragmented red blood cells, and microcytic red blood cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the processing of a liquid sample, e.g., a blood sample, based on a measurement related to the sample's ability to coat a surface against which the sample is brought into contact while being routinely transported. Preferably, the sample is advanced through a tube, and the amount of sample residue remaining within the tube is measured and correlated to coating process subsequently carried out on the sample, e.g., a process for producing blood-smears on a microscope slide. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of sample residue in a blood-transport tube is used to control the motion profile (i.e., acceleration and velocity) of a drop-spreading member used to spread a blood drop on a microscope slide in an automated slide-making instrument.

Abstract: A magnetically-attractive specimen-container rack for use with a magnetic transport system for transporting racks of specimen-containers to or within an automated clinical instrument for analysis and/or processing. The specimen-container rack comprises a pair of U-shaped magnetically-attractive members mounted in the base section of the rack housing so that the distal ends of such members extend towards the base of the rack and terminate in a plane slightly short of the plane in which the rack is supported for movement atop a rack-supporting surface. Such members are adapted to cooperate with similarly-shaped permanent magnets carried by an X/Y-movable truck that underlies a non-magnetic rack-supporting plate.

Abstract: In cytometry and like procedures, particles containing signal dyes are exposed to a laser, and the resulting fluorescence is assessed in two different wavelength bands. When the particle is a single-assay particle, or when the particle carries only a single dye, the fluorescences in the different wavelength bands are combined in order to assess the concentration of the signal dye.

Abstract: A method of assigning expected recovery values to control substances used in analytical testing is disclosed.

Abstract: Fluorescent labeled reporter compounds having a modified cyanine dye that is coupled to a nucleotide derivative through a linker are disclosed. The compounds are useful for nucleic acid sequence analysis. The fluorescent labeled reporter compounds are ring-locked cyanine dyes that are coupled to a nucleotide derivative, such as a modified DNA base, through a linker. These fluorescent labeled reporter compounds can be used as DNA chain-terminators in DNA synthesis to generate DNA fragments that are fluorescently-labeled at the 3?-terminal end of the DNA fragment.

Abstract: An analyte detection system utilizing a combination of fluorescent labels for labeling particles and an analyte specific fluorescent analyte detection dye. The particles contain a combination of fluorescent labels for coding the particles and an analyte specific fluorescent dye. The particles can be used to identify and quantify analytes in an analytical sample by reaction of the analytical sample with the particles. An analytical device can identify the particles according to the combination of fluorescent labels. The device can then correlate the identified particle with the analyte specific fluorescent analyte detection dye. Multiple subpopulations of particles can be used to identify and quantify multi-analytes in a single analytical sample. Near infrared (NIR) fluorescent labels useful in the detection system are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the processing of a liquid sample, e.g., a blood sample, based on a measurement related to the sample's ability to coat a surface against which the sample is brought into contact while being routinely transported. Preferably, the sample is advanced through a tube, and the amount of sample residue remaining within the tube is measured and correlated to coating process subsequently carried out on the sample, e.g., a process for producing blood-smears on a microscope slide. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of sample residue in a blood-transport tube is used to control the motion profile (i.e., acceleration and velocity) of a drop-spreading member used to spread a blood drop on a microscope slide in an automated slide-making instrument.

Abstract: The invention provides highly sensitive and rapid homogeneous assays which employ particle-enhanced assay formats in concert with capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection to determine the concentration of an analyte of interest in a sample. Such a determination is made by measuring fluorescent signal(s) (i.e., an electropherogram) produced upon LIF of species present in the reaction mixture that are capable of producing such signals. The method of this invention produces simplified electropherograms by reducing the number of signals that must be separated and subsequently measured, and therefore increases the accuracy of the detection and/or quantification of target analyte concentration in a sample.

Abstract: Methods for testing a fecal sample for the presence of hemoglobin, comprising performing a chemical fecal occult blood test on the sample and then performing an immunochemical fecal occult blood test on a portion of the sample exposed to the chemical reagents used in the chemical fecal occult blood test.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the invention, methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums are provided for processing image data representing cellular analysis result data including accessing image data; generating an intensity histogram based on the image data; transforming the intensity histogram into a stepped image; performing normalized cross-correlation between the stepped image and a reference image to measure similarity; and determining an abnormality based on the measured similarity.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the invention, methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums are provided for displaying cellular analysis result data including accessing cellular analysis result data; determining frequency information of a plurality of cell populations from the cellular analysis result data; associating frequency information of each of the plurality of cell populations with a surface elevation point; and displaying an interactive surface plot of the associated frequency information and the surface elevation points.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the invention, methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums are provided for displaying cellular analysis result data including accessing cellular analysis result data, accessing data of at least one template, and displaying the cellular analysis result data and the data of at least one template by overlaying the cellular analysis result data and the data of the at least one template, wherein the cellular analysis result data is displayed using different display attributes from the displayed data of the at least one template.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for aspirating liquid from a container, e.g., a test tube or other vessel, includes apparatus for sensing that an aspiration probe tip is contacting the inside bottom wall of the container, whereby a maximum volume of liquid can be aspirated from the container. According to the invention, an encoder is mounted on the driven member of a motor (e.g., on a rotatably-driven drive shaft or a nut of a stepper or D.C. motor, or on a linearly-driven shaft of a linear actuator) used to rectilinearly advance the probe tip into the container. Such encoder produces a series of pulses indicating the speed and/or linear position of the probe tip. A motor controller responds to a predetermined change in pattern of pulses from the encoder indicating that movement of the probe tip has been resisted by the vessel bottom, whereby further movement of the driven member and of the probe connected thereto is arrested, and the probe tip remains in contact with the vessel bottom.

Abstract: A method of making a reference control containing a nucleated red blood cell component includes providing a blood cell containing a nucleus; treating the blood cell with a treatment solution to alter a nucleus property from a natural value to a target value suitable for simulating nucleated red blood cells on a blood analyzer; and suspending treated blood cell in a suspension medium to form a reference control. The method also includes integrating the nucleated red blood cell component with white blood cell, red blood cell, platelet and reticulocyte components. Further disclosed is a cell treatment composition for altering a nucleus property, which includes a conditioning component, a lytic component for permeating cell membrane, and a fixing component for preserving the cell nucleus. Also disclosed is a method of using the reference control for measurement of nucleated red blood cells on a blood analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a useful system for assays that comprises a solid support, a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized onto the solid support, and complementary oligonucleotides attached to capture ligands. A detectable label can be directly attached to the capture oligonucleotides or the complementary oligonucleotides. The labeled oligonucleotides can be detected, and used to determine the quality of the assay. A labeled detector ligand corresponding to a target ligand can also be independently detected apart from the labeled oligonucleotide.

Abstract: A formaldehyde-free cleaner composition and method of use for maintaining a blood analyzer are disclosed. The cleaner composition includes surfactants, a proteolytic enzyme, non-formaldehyde releasing antimicrobials, alkaline metal salts, and a buffer. The cleaner composition has a pH in a range from about 7 to about 12 and a formaldehyde concentration equal or less than 1 ppm.