Abstract: A promotional item including a promotional panel on an outer surface of the promotional item, wherein the promotional panel promotes a company and directs individuals to finding more information about the company through websites and social media sites. A method of making the promotional item, by printing a promotional panel on an outer surface of the promotional item, wherein the promotional panel promotes a company and directs individuals to finding more information about the company through websites and social media sites. A method of advertising by providing a promotional item including a promotional panel associated with a company on an outer surface of the promotional item, and promoting the company.

Abstract: The invention provides a new method and system for detecting and monitoring extracellular or exogenously added hemoglobin, i.e., a cell-free hemoglobin substitute or derivative, in a blood, plasma, or serum sample of an individual, particularly a whole blood sample. The invention further describes the use of automated hematology analyzers to determine and quantify at the same time the concentration of total, cellular and exogenous hemoglobin in a blood, plasma, or serum sample, and is particularly advantageous for medical use during or after patient trauma or surgery, as well as for monitoring hemoglobin levels during patient recovery.

Abstract: The invention describes an automated method for correcting interferences with blood chemistry results on plasma or serum using automated hematology analysis of a whole blood sample. Such interference error results from the presence of exogenous oxygen-carrying blood substitutes in transfused blood samples. The automated method is performed using automated hematology analysis to correct errors due to interference in the determination of blood chemistries to provide accurate quantification of these parameters directly, rapidly and automatically. The automated interference correction method is advantageous for medical and clinical use following transfusion of patients with blood substitutes after trauma or during surgery, and for repeated or periodic monitoring of patients' blood samples during recovery.

Abstract: The invention provides a new method and system for detecting and monitoring extracellular or exogenously added hemoglobin, i.e., a cell-free hemoglobin substitute or derivative, in a blood, plasma, or serum sample of an individual, particularly a whole blood sample. The invention further describes the use of automated hematology analyzers to determine and quantify at the same time the concentration of total, cellular and exogenous hemoglobin in a blood, plasma, or serum sample, and is particularly advantageous for medical use during or after patient trauma or surgery, as well as for monitoring hemoglobin levels during patient recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heretofore unknown use for a aqueous reagent composition that serves as a universal rinse for performing and/or improving a variety of hematological analyses on automated analyzers. The universal rinse reagent comprises a phosphate buffer to maintain the rinse solution pH at from about 7.0 to about 7.6; a nonhemolytic nonionic surfactant, such as a Pluronic.RTM. an alkali metal salt, such as NaCi; antimicrobial and anti-oxidant compounds; and has an osmolality of about 285 to 305 mOsmol/kg. The universal rinse reagent composition is highly suitable for use in the rinse phases or cycles of all types of blood cell analysis methods and processes performed on semi- and fully-automated systems. The invention allows the replacement of mutiple and specific rinse solutions with the disclosed universal rinse to obtain accurate and acceptable results, independent of the types of blood cell analyses that are performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved reagent composition and method to perform white blood cell differential counting and subpopulation analysis using both fresh and aged blood samples with accuracy and precision. The invention is particularly applicable for the analysis of aged blood samples that have been stored at room temperature for over a day, thereby allowing accurate and useful information to be obtained from samples that are normally considered to be suboptimal. The improved reagent composition and method are particularly related to the peroxidase method of white blood cell differential determinations. One aspect of the invention includes an improved aqueous reagent composition for carrying out the peroxidase method of differential counting.