Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a sample of biologic fluid quiescently residing within a chamber is provided. The apparatus includes a light source, a positioner, a mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field, and an image dissector. The light source is operable to illuminate a sample field of known, or ascertainable, area. The positioner is operable to selectively change the position of one of the chamber or the light source relative to the other, thereby permitting selective illumination of all regions of the sample. The mechanism for determining the volume of a sample, field can determine the volume of a sample field illuminated by the light source. The image dissector is operable to convert an image of light passing through or emanating from the sample field into an electronic data format.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for analyzing a sample of biologic fluid quiescently residing within a chamber is provided. The apparatus includes a light source, a positioner, a mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field, and an image dissector. The light source is operable to illuminate a sample field of known, or ascertainable, area. The positioner is operable to selectively change the position of any or any or all of the chamber, the light source, or the image dissector, thereby enabling selective illumination of all regions of the sample. The mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field can determine the volume of a sample field illuminated by the light source. The image dissector is operable to convert an image of light passing through or emanating from the sample field into an electronic data format.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a sample of biologic fluid quiescently residing within a chamber is provided. The apparatus includes a light source, a positioner, a mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field, and an image dissector. The light source is operable to illuminate a sample field of known, or ascertainable, area. The positioner is operable to selectively change the position of one of the chamber or the light source relative to the other, thereby permitting selective illumination of all regions of the sample. The mechanism for determining the volume of a sample field can determine the volume of a sample field illuminated by the light source. The image dissector is operable to convert an image of light passing through or emanating from the sample field into an electronic data format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing quality control in a medical analysis instrument is provided. The method includes the steps of: 1) sending one or more quality control specimens to an operator of the analytical instrument; 2) directly or indirectly communicating control data to the analytical instrument, wherein the control data relates acceptable standards to the analytical instrument; 3) analyzing the quality control specimen using the analytical instrument and thereby creating instrument analysis data; 4) evaluating the instrument analysis data using the control data to determine a functional status of the analytical instrument; 5) providing notice to the operator regarding the functional status of the analytical instrument; and 6) optionally preventing the reporting of patient data from the instrument if the functional status is unacceptable.

Abstract: Formed constituents in an aqueous based fluid biologic material sample are separated from the aqueous constituent of the sample, and are concentrated in an examining instrument's focal plane where they can be examined under magnification. Examples of fluids that can be analyzed in this fashion include urine; cerebrospinal fluid; pleural fluid; ascites; fluids aspirated from cysts such as thyroid and breast cysts; cytologic specimens which have been placed in an aqueous fluid; platelet-rich plasma; and the like. The sample is placed in a chamber having a layer of a hydrophilic hydrogel covering a surface of the chamber. An opposite surface of the chamber is transparent, and may be formed by a microscope slide cover slip, or the like. The volume of hydrogel in the chamber is sufficient so that, when the hydrogel absorbs essentially all of the aqueous fraction of the sample, the hydrogel will expand and fill the chamber.

Abstract: A method for determining the effects of a growth-altering agent on one or more microbial colonies is provided. The method utilizes a growth-altering agent incorporated into at least a portion of a growth medium, and includes the steps of: (a) incubating the colony-forming units in a manner likely to cause the colony-forming units to replicate into microbial colonies; (b) inoculating the growth medium with an inoculum having one or more viable colony-forming units; (c) quantifying one or more characteristics of one or more individual microbial colonies exposed to the growth-altering agent; and (d) evaluating the quantified characteristics to determine the effects of the growth-altering agent on the individual microbial colonies.

Abstract: Formed constituents of a quiescent anticoagulated whole blood sample are optically or visually analyzed in a sample chamber which has a varying through plane thickness due to convergent opposing sample chamber walls. At least one of the convergent walls of the chamber is transparent so that the blood sample constituents can be observed. The chamber's varying thickness produces a first lesser thickness region in the chamber wherein a quiescent monolayer of red blood cells in the sample will reside after the sample is introduced into and fills the chamber. Larger formed constituents such as white blood cells in the sample are unable to enter the aforesaid lesser thickness region of the chamber. The red cells which reside in the greater thickness regions will agglomerate to form rouleaux and lacunea. The exact thickness of the chamber at any particular location in the chamber can be predetermined, or can be determined in situ as the sample is being analyzed.

Abstract: Formed constituents of a quiescent anticoagulated whole blood or other biologic fluid sample are optically analyzed by an optical scanning instrument. The sample is contained in a sample chamber that has a varying through plane thickness. The thickness of any fields of view in the blood sample which contain plasma lacunae can be calculated by the instrument as a function of signal emission strength emanating from the colored plasma in the lacunae. The signal emissions can be the result of sample fluorescence or can be the result of signal density emanating from the sample. Particle volumes can be measured as a function of signal emission suppression which is caused by formed particles in the blood sample.