Abstract: This disclosure describes the development of a sample preparation, measurement, and analysis method that permits accurate characterization of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells, including a 3-part differential of the white blood cells count, to be performed on small volumes of a biological sample. This method is compatible with compact and portable instrumentation that permits the sample collection to be performed in a subject's home and analysis to be performed elsewhere by transmission of the data to a laboratory or doctor's office.

Abstract: The use of a medical care algorithm in clinical care reduces the number of mistakes made in treating a patient. The use of a medical care algorithm in clinical care also increases the confidence of a health care provider in providing care for a patient. The invention provides a system and a method for effectively, thoroughly, and easily granting a health care provider with real-time access to critical, semi-critical, and non-critical medical care algorithms. The invention also provides a system and a method for a health care provider to consult proactive guidelines commonly used in health care. The invention also allows the health care provider a method to utilize the algorithms as a refresher tool for review and continuing education. Furthermore, the invention provides a method for the documentation of algorithm based treatments as an electronic medical record.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for determining the number and type of blood cells in a blood sample. The blood sample is collected and held in a slide. In the slide, the blood sample is separated and channeled into at least two sampling chambers, one for red blood cells, another for white blood cells, and optionally yet another for platelets. The sampling chambers have wetting agents, lysing agents, staining agents, or the like therein to mix with the blood and facilitate cell count. The slide is placed in a portable slide analyzer where the sampling chambers are illuminated and images of the sampling chambers are taken. These images are converted into electronic form and sent by a communications module of the slide analyzer to a remote external location where the images are analyzed to determine the number and type of blood cells in the blood sample.