Integrated hematology analyser
The cobas m 511 combines a digital morphology analyser, cell counter and classifier into one streamlined instrument preparing, staining and analysing microscopy blood slides. By counting, identifying, isolating and categorizing white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets and finally presenting the digital images of all these cell types on the Viewing Station including a standard CBC and 5-part differential, the cobas m 511 helps medical technologists concentrate on finding and classifying abnormal cells within a patient sample. Significantly, the cobas m 511 requires only small sample volumes, so the blood requirements from vulnerable groups such as the elderly, intensive care patients and neonates are greatly reduced. The Bloodhound technology represents the core intelligence of the cobas m 511. It analyses the morphology of individual cells and presents the results of the analysis in detailed images for human interaction. Moreover, while medical technologists will continue to have the option of looking at slides under their microscopes, Bloodhound technology provides cell-by-cell images that, in many cases, may eliminate the need for microscopic review. As opposed to the typical indirectly measured approaches used in blood analysis today – primarily impedance and flow cytometry – the Bloodhound technology images individual cells directly, analyses each cell’s morphology, counts it, and then classifies all the cells in the viewing area to provide a CBC, 5-part differential, and reticulocyte count. The cobas m 511 integrated hematology analyser has several quality control features built into the graphical user interface (GUI) software that are designed to help to reduce subjectivity of cell identification and standardize the quality of the results, sample after sample. The analyser uses the DigiMAC3 stain pack for a fully automated fix and stain of the microscopy slide and will process 1,000 cycles without replacement. Thanks to an internal reservoir, the analyser holds enough reserve reagents to process 25 samples after the DigiMAC3 stain pack empties. Using a proprietary “hot swap” process, technicians can quickly change the DigiMAC3 stain pack while the instrument is still processing specimens. An integrated Viewing Station provides medical technologists and hematologists with cell-by-cell viewing access. Going beyond what would normally be seen in a field-of-view through a microscope, Bloodhound technology allows to view individual white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets on a high-resolution display and organizes them into cell-specific galleries. It also allows to sort RBCs by size, shape and hemoglobin concentration as well as platelets by size and granularity. All cell images from the various galleries can be enlarged to ensure an even closer examination of the cell’s structure and morphology. Most importantly, the Bloodhound technology identifies and isolates abnormal white cells from the population of the non-pathological white cells. These are any cells that cannot be classified due to morphologic or abnormal aberrations and require review by the medical technologist or hematologist.
