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 introducing a cell suspension comprising red blood cells into a carrier that is a closed cavity that includes a base surface and a closed top, 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: 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 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: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a cell sample that includes a plurality of cells disposed in a monolayer. A series of images associated with a series of depth levels of the cell sample are acquired, by performing a depth scan of cell sample with a microscope. One of the depth levels is identified as being an optimum focal plane for imaging one or more entities within the cell sample using the microscope, by identifying that a drop in image contrast occurs at the identified depth level relative to the image contrast of images acquired at depth levels within a given range of distances from the identified depth level. The cell sample is imaged using the microscope, by focusing the microscope at an investigative depth level that is based on the identified depth level. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for analyzing a bodily sample. A microscope system acquires one or more microscope images of the bodily sample. A computer processor identifies elements as being candidates of a given entity, in the one or more images. At least one sample-informative feature, relating to a characteristic of the candidates of the given entity in the sample as a whole, is extracted from the one or more images. A characteristic of the sample is determined at least partially based upon the sample-informative feature, and an output is generated in response thereto. 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 sample that includes a plurality of red blood cells. A series of images associated with a series of depth levels of the sample are acquired, by performing a depth scan of the sample with 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, by identifying that a drop in image contrast occurs at the identified depth level. The sample is imaged using the microscope, by focusing the microscope at an investigative depth level that is based on the identified depth level. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including staining a blood sample with one or more stains. A plurality of microscopic images of the stained blood sample are acquired, using a microscope. Staining-quality parameters for respective microscopic images are determined, using a computer processor, the staining-quality parameters being indicative of a quality of the staining within each of the respective microscopic images. An action is performed by the computer processor, based upon the staining-quality parameters of the respective microscopic images. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for analyzing a bodily sample. One or more microscope images of the bodily sample are acquired. Using at least one computer processor at least one sample-informative feature that is indicative of a characteristic of the bodily sample is extracted from the images. Based upon the sample-informative feature, the computer processor determines that there is a defect associated with the bodily sample, and determines a source of the defect. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring microscopic images of a blood sample, and identifying deformed red blood cells within the microscopic images. A degree of red blood cell deformity within the sample is determined, at least partially based upon the identified deformed red blood cells. A sample-informative parameter that is indicative of a characteristic of the blood sample as a whole is determined, at least partially based upon the degree of red blood cell deformity within the sample. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a digital microscope unit that includes a digital microscope. A biological cell sample that is disposed within a sample carrier is received into the digital microscope unit. It is determined that there is a variation in the focal depth of the biological sample with respect to the microscope due to curvature in the sample carrier and/or due to tolerance in setup of the microscope. In response to determining that there is the variation in the focal depth of the biological sample with respect to the microscope, the variation in the focal depth of the biological sample with respect to the microscope is accounted for. 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 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: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a digital microscope unit that includes a digital microscope. A biological cell sample disposed within a sample carrier, is received into the digital microscope unit. For at least one imaging field of the biological cell sample, it is determined that, within the imaging field, there is a variation in the focal depth of the biological sample with respect to the microscope. At least one image of the imaging field is captured. A characteristic of the biological sample is determined by analyzing the captured image of the imaging field, the analyzing including, in response to determining that there is a variation in the focal depth of the biological sample with respect to the microscope, accounting for the variation in the focal depth of the biological sample with respect to the microscope. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including successively acquiring a plurality of microscopic images of a portion of a blood sample, and tracking motion of pixels within the successively acquired microscopic images. Trypomastigote parasite candidates within the blood sample are identified, by identifying pixel motion that is typical of trypomastigote parasites. It is determined that the blood sample is infected with trypomastigote parasites, at least partially in response thereto. An output is generated indicating that that the blood sample is infected with trypomastigote parasites. 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.