Blood Analyzer Discriminating White Blood Cells from Giant Platelets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood analyzers struggle to accurately discriminate between white blood cells and giant platelets, particularly in specimens from patients with conditions like Bernard-Soulier syndrome or May-Hegglin anomaly, where giant platelets have a similar size to white blood cells, leading to inaccurate counting.
Innovation Solution
A blood analyzer method that involves preparing a measurement specimen by hemolyzing red blood cells and staining nucleic acids, using a reagent with a pH of 2.0 to 4.5 containing a surfactant, and detecting the intensity of side scattered light and fluorescence to differentiate white blood cells from giant platelets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If forward scattered light intensity and fluorescence intensity are used for discrimination, then white blood cells can be identified, but giant platelets cannot be accurately distinguished from white blood cells
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds side scattered light intensity as a new dimension to the discrimination process. Previously, only forward scattered light intensity and fluorescence intensity were used, creating a two-dimensional discrimination space where giant platelets and white blood cells overlapped. By introducing side scattered light intensity, the system creates a three-dimensional discrimination space that provides additional separation between these cell types, enabling accurate identification of giant platelets that were previously indistinguishable from white blood cells.
2Reliability
If a reagent with pH 2.0 to 4.5 containing surfactant is used, then measurement specimen preparation is improved, but the complexity of reagent formulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies a particular pH range (2.0 to 4.5) for the reagent, which is more acidic than conventional reagents. This parameter change, combined with the addition of surfactant, improves the lysis of red blood cells and the release of intracellular contents, thereby enhancing measurement reliability. The specific pH parameter optimization ensures consistent and reliable specimen preparation while maintaining reagent stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate discrimination and counting of white blood cells, even in specimens containing giant platelets, by utilizing the differences in side scattered light and fluorescence intensities, thereby improving the accuracy of blood cell analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a hemolytic agent that hemolyzes red blood cells
Implementation Method 2
a staining reagent that stains nucleic acids; detecting intensity of side scattered light and intensity of fluorescence generated from the measurement specimen
Implementation Method 3
applying light onto the measurement specimen flowing through the flow cell, and detects forward scattered light and fluorescence generated from the measurement specimen
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a blood analyzer comprising: a specimen preparation unit that prepares a measurement specimen by mixing a hemolytic agent that hemolyzes red blood cells, a staining dye that dyes nucleic acids, and a blood specimen; a detector that detects intensity of side scattered light and intensity of fluorescence generated with application of light from the measurement specimen prepared by the specimen preparation unit; and an analysis unit that discriminates white blood cells from giant platelets based on the intensity of side scattered light and the intensity of fluorescence detected by the detector, and counts the white blood cells.