Hematology Cell Counters

In addition to the automated devices and processing units that were developed primarily to automate chemistry and immunoassay that are described above, a variety of other instruments and processes have been automiated and used in the clinical laboratory. They include urine analyzers, flow cytometers, hematology cell counters, nucleic add analyzers, microtiter plate systems, point-of-care analyzers, and remotely located systems. 

Hematology. Hemacytometers or electronic cell counters can be used to assess the numbers of lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils in the peripheral blood, while changes in relative ratios of the various cell types can be assessed by microscopic differential evaluation. Similar evaluations can be... 

Fig. 7 Graphs of beads per cell versus number of cells depleted from whole blood with CD45, CD16b, CD235a, and CD41 antibody-conjugated manganese ferrite beads (left to right, top to bottom, respectively) as determined by flow cytometry and/or hematology(ceU counter)...

Determining cell concentration in a buffy coat sample using a particle counter can be difficult. If the laboratory has access to hematological material, it is recommended to use the Unoppette system (Becton Dickinson), after diluting the sample. Results from particle counter and manual counting should not differ by more than 5%. 

When Coulter first demonstrated the Coulter counter, it could count red blood cells at a high rate of 6,000 particles/s, which revolutionized the science of hematology. Within a decade, literally every hospital laboratory in the USA had Coulter counters because of its high sensitivity and reliability. 

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