Hematology Analyzer Flagging Lysis-Resistant Red Blood Cells

The patent applies preliminary action by performing multiple sequential lysis steps with different lysis agents of increasing strength. The first lysis agent (e.g., ammonium chloride) is applied to lyse normal red blood cells, followed by a second stronger lysis agent (e.g., saponin) to lyse lysis-resistant red blood cells. This staged approach allows normal RBCs to be removed first, then rRBCs are targeted in a subsequent step, preventing interference while preserving WBC integrity throughout the process.

The patent applies parameter changes by varying the lysis agent composition and strength across different lysis steps. The system transitions from a milder lysis agent to a stronger one, changing the chemical parameters of the lysis environment. This allows selective lysis of different cell types based on their resistance levels, enabling the differentiation and removal of rRBCs without affecting WBCs.

The patent applies preliminary action by performing the first lysis step with a milder agent to remove the majority of normal red blood cells before applying the second stronger lysis agent. This staged approach allows the system to address the bulk of RBC removal first, then target the remaining lysis-resistant population, improving efficiency by not wasting time or reagent on already-lysed cells.

The patent applies partial action by using a first lysis agent that partially lyzes red blood cells (normal RBCs) without completely eliminating all RBCs. This partial lysis is intentional, allowing the second lysis agent to then complete the task by targeting the resistant population. This approach is more efficient than applying the strongest lysis agent from the start, which would waste time and reagents on cells already susceptible to milder lysis.