Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for analyzing a bodily sample. A sample carrier (22), which houses the bodily sample, includes at least one fluidic channel (120), at least one analysis chamber (68), and a receptacle (92) that houses a diluent. A pump system (150) pumps the diluent from the receptacle (92) into the fluidic channel (120) in a first fluid flow direction, and subsequently, pumps the diluent and the bodily sample in a second fluid flow direction, which is a reverse of the first fluid flow direction, to thereby mix the diluent and the bodily sample within the receptacle (92). 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 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 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 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 determining a property of a biological sample. A sample carrier includes a glass substrate configured to define a first surface of a sample chamber that is configured to receive the sample, and a plastic substrate configured to define a second surface of the sample chamber. The height of the sample chamber at each location within the sample chamber is defined by a gap between the first surface and the second surface. An adhesive adheres the glass substrate to the plastic substrate. The plastic substrate is shaped such that the sample chamber defines a first region and a second region, with the sample chamber defining a predefined variation in height between the first region and the second region. 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 for use with a cell sample. For each of one or more imaging fields of the cell sample, a depth scan of the cell sample is performed using a microscope. One of the depth levels is identified as being an optimum focal plane for imaging one or more entities within the sample using the microscope, at least partially in response to detecting that the depth level corresponds to a drop in image contrast relative to image contrast at other depth levels. Based upon the depth level identified as being the optimum focal plane for each of the one or more imaging fields of the cell sample, a scanning depth interval over which to perform a depth scan of the cell sample at a further imaging field is defined. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of determining a reference depth level within a cell sample. The method comprises obtaining data representative of a series of images captured by performing a depth scan of the cell sample using a digital microscope, the series of images being associated with a series of depth levels of the cell sample; processing said data for detecting at least one depth level corresponding to a drop in image contrast; and identifying the detected depth level as the reference depth level.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including introducing a cell suspension comprising red blood cells into a carrier that is a closed cavity that includes a base surface, via an inlet defined by the carrier. The cells in the cell suspension are allowed to settle on the base surface of the carrier to form a monolayer of cells on the base surface of the carrier. At least one microscope image of at least a portion of the monolayer of cells is acquired. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a method for imaging a blood sample and a kit and system for executing the method. The method includes introducing a cell suspension including red blood cells onto a base surface of a carrier having a vertical height (H) being greater than or equal to a vertical depth (h) of the cell suspension when on the base carrier, the cell suspension including a cell concentration (C) being determined by a defined function; allowing the cells in the cell suspension to settle on the base surface of the carrier to form a monolayer of cells thereon; and acquiring at least one microscope image of at least a portion of the monolayer of cells; wherein the at least one microscope image is obtained by a microscope set to Depth Of Field that is not more than 20% of the vertical height of the cell suspension settled on the base surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a microscope system (11) configured to acquire one or more micro scope images of a bodily sample, an output device (34), and at least one computer processor (28). The computer processor identifies, in the one or more images, at least one element as being a pathogen candidate, and extracts, from the one or more images, at least one candidate-informative feature associated with the pathogen candidate. The compute processor extracts, from the one or more images, at least one sample-informative feature that is indicative of contextual information related to the bodily sample. The computer processor classifies a likelihood of the bodily sample being infected with a pathogenic infection, by processing the candidate-informative feature in combination with the sample-informative feature, and generates an output upon the output device, in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a method for imaging a blood sample and a kit and system for executing the method. The method includes introducing a cell suspension including red blood cells onto a base surface of a carrier having a vertical height (H) being greater than or equal to a vertical depth (h) of the cell suspension when on the base carrier, the cell suspension including a cell concentration (C) being determined by a defined function; allowing the cells in the cell suspension to settle on the base surface of the carrier to form a monolayer of cells thereon; and acquiring at least one microscope image of at least a portion of the monolayer of cells; wherein the at least one microscope image is obtained by a microscope set to Depth Of Field that is not more than 20% of the vertical height of the cell suspension settled on the base surface.

Abstract: Provided is a method for imaging a blood sample and a kit and system for executing the method. The method includes introducing a cell suspension including red blood cells onto a base surface of a carrier having a vertical height (H) being greater than or equal to a vertical depth (h) of the cell suspension when on the base carrier, the cell suspension including a cell concentration (C) being determined by a defined function; allowing the cells in the cell suspension to settle on the base surface of the carrier to form a monolayer of cells thereon; and acquiring at least one microscope image of at least a portion of the monolayer of cells; wherein the at least one microscope image is obtained by a microscope set to Depth Of Field that is not more than 20% of the vertical height of the cell suspension settled on the base surface.

Abstract: Provided is a method for imaging a blood sample and a kit and system for executing the method. The method includes introducing a cell suspension including red blood cells onto a base surface of a carrier having a vertical height (H) being greater than or equal to a vertical depth (h) of the cell suspension when on the base carrier, the cell suspension including a cell concentration (C) being determined by a defined function; allowing the cells in the cell suspension to settle on the base surface of the carrier to form a monolayer of cells thereon; and acquiring at least one microscope image of at least a portion of the monolayer of cells; wherein the at least one microscope image is obtained by a microscope set to Depth Of Field that is not more than 20% of the vertical height of the cell suspension settled on the base surface.