Abstract: The enumeration and analysis of residual white blood cells in a sample of leukocyte-reduced blood products is conducted by forming a suspension of the leukocyte-reduced blood products with a sufficient amount of a lysing reagent. The lysing reagent comprises a buffer with a low molar concentration, and a non-ionic surfactant. The suspension of leukocyte-reduced blood products and the lysing reagent is incubated for a sufficient time at a temperature sufficient to selectively lyse the platelets and red blood cells without damaging the white blood cells. The white blood cells of the lysed blood products are then contacted with a suitable dye to stain the white blood cells and the number of stained white blood cells is measured. The lysing reagent is free of harsh organic solvents which can damage the plastic components of automated clinical analyzers.

Abstract: The present invention describes semi- and fully-automated methods and reagents therefor for the assay and analysis of body fluid samples, particularly non-blood samples. The methods and reagents are especially useful for the assay and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The reagent compositions sphere and fix all cells in the sample in suspension. Reported results can include red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, WBC differential values, cell-by-cell volumes and dry-mass concentrations.

Abstract: The enumeration and analysis of residual white blood cells in a sample of leukocyte-reduced blood products is conducted by forming a suspension of the leukocyte-reduced blood products with a sufficient amount of a lysing reagent. The lysing reagent comprises a buffer with a low molar concentration, and a non-ionic surfactant. The suspension of leukocyte-reduced blood products and the lysing reagent is incubated for a sufficient time at a temperature sufficient to selectively lyse the platelets and red blood cells without damaging the white blood cells. The white blood cells of the lysed blood products are then contacted with a suitable dye to stain the white blood cells and the number of stained white blood cells is measured. The lysing reagent is free of harsh organic solvents which can damage the plastic components of automated clinical analyzers.

Abstract: The present invention describes semi- and fully-automated methods and reagents therefor for the assay and analysis of body fluid samples, particularly non-blood samples. The methods and reagents are especially useful for the assay and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The reagent compositions sphere and fix all cells in the sample in suspension. Reported results can include red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, WBC differential values, cell-by-cell volumes and dry-mass concentrations.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying parameters in a smoothed normalized star diagram where parameters are received from a medical laboratory instrument and processed. The processing includes calculating a normalized parameter value for each parameter using a predetermined mean and standard deviation and scaling the resulting normalized parameter value using a range restricting function. Each scaled parameter is assigned to a spoke and rays are drawn between adjacent spokes at a small angular interval. The ends of the rays are then joined by line segments, thereby constructing a smooth overall diagram.

Abstract: Methods for blood sample preparation using reagent compositions which include a zwitterionic surfactant for sphering of cells to eliminate orientational noise. When the reagent composition including a dye for staining a subset of cells is reacted with a blood sample, and the reaction mixture is passed through the sensing region of a flow cytometer, the light scattered and absorbed by each cell is measured, the stained cells can be distinguished from the unstained cells, and when the cells are reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes, respectively, the volume and hemoglobin concentration of each reticulocyte or erythrocyte, and the hemoglobin content, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and mean cell hemoglobin of the reticulocytes or erythrocytes are calculated from the measured cell-by-cell volume and hemoglobin concentration.

Abstract: A reagent composition which includes organic cationic dyes for staining the reticulocytes in a blood sample and buffer solutions for maintaining a pH of about 6 to about 9 is provided. The dyes may be the blue absorption dyes Oxazine 750 or New Methylene Blue. A zwitterionic surfactant is included in the reagent composition for isovolumetric sphering of the reticulocytes and erythrocytes. The reagent composition and whole blood sample mixture are passed through the sensing region of a flow cytometer. The light scattered and absorbed by each cell is measured; the erythrocytes can be distinguished from reticulocytes and the volume, hemoglobin concentration and the hemoglobin content of each reticulocyte or erythrocyte, and the mean cell volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and mean cell hemoglobin of the reticulocytes or erythrocytes are calculated from the measured cell-by-cell volume and hemoglobin concentration.

Abstract: A reagent composition which include an organic cationic dye for staining the reticulocytes in the blood sample and a buffer solution for maintaining a pH of about 6 to about 9 is provided. The dyes may be the red excitable fluorescent dye Oxazine 750, or the blue excitable fluorescent dyes Acridine Orange or derivatives of Acridine Orange. A zwitterionic surfactant is included in the reagent composition for isovolumetric sphering of the reticulocytes and erythrocytes.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing and distinguishing reticulocytes and mature red blood cells use reagent compositions which include an organic cationic dye for staining the reticulocytes in the blood sample and a buffer solution for maintaining a pH of about 6 to about 9. The dyes may be the red excitable fluorescent dye Oxazine 750, or the blue excitable fluorescent dyes Acridine Orange or derivatives of Acridine Orange.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing and distinguishing reticulocytes and mature red blood cells use reagent compositions which include organic cationic dyes for staining the reticulocytes in the blood sample and buffer solutions for maintaining a pH of about 6 to about 9. The dyes may be the blue absorption dyes Oxazine 750 or New Methylene Blue.

Abstract: Methods for blood sample preparation using reagent compositions which include a zwitterionic surfactant for sphering of cells to eliminate orientational noise. When the reagent composition including a for staining a subset of cells is reacted with an anticoagulated blood sample, and the reaction mixture is passed through the sensing region of a flow cytometer, the light scattered and absorbed by each cell is measured, the stained cells can be distinguished from the unstained cells, and when the cells are reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes, respectively, the volume and hemoglobin concentration of each reticulocyte or erythrocyte, and the hemoglobin content, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and mean cell hemoglobin of the reticulocytes or erythrocytes are calculated from the measured cell-by-cell volume and hemoglobin concentration.

Abstract: Quaternized derivatives of acridine orange and reagents incorporating such derivatives and their use in quantitatively determining reticulocyte levels in whole blood specimen by fluorescence flow cytometry techniques are disclosed. The quaternized derivatives of acridine orange are of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Y is bromide (Br.sup.-) or iodide (I.sup.-), andX may be R.sub.1 and/or R.sub.2 substituted benzyl group ##STR2## R.sub.1 is hydrogen or fluorine, and R.sub.2 is fluorine, trifluoromethyl or hydrogen, or X may be hydroxyl ethylene.