Reagents, Systems and Methods for Analyzing White Blood Cells

摘要

Aspects of the invention include WBC analysis reagents, systems and methods that can be used for analyzing a sample of whole blood to identify, classify, and/or quantify white blood cells (WBC) and WBC sub-populations in the sample. The WBC analysis reagents of the present disclosure generally include at least one membrane-permeable fluorescent dye, a WBC protecting reagent, and a surfactant. In some embodiments, the WBC reagents include a suitable amount of an osmolality adjusting component to adjust the osmolality of the WBC reagent into a desired range.

主权项

1. A method of performing a white blood cell (WBC) analysis with an automated hematology analyzer, the method comprising:
(a) diluting a sample of whole blood with a WBC analysis reagent, wherein the WBC analysis reagent comprises:
a membrane-permeable fluorescent dye that labels a plurality of nucleus-containing cells in the sample; andan osmolality adjustment component that separates a plurality of WBC subpopulations from one another when analyzed with the hematology analyzer; (b) incubating the diluted blood sample of step (a) for an incubation period of less than about 25 seconds, at a temperature ranging from about 30° C. to about 50° C.; (c) delivering the incubated sample from step (b) to a flow cell in the hematology analyzer; (d) exciting the incubated sample from step (c) with an excitation source as the incubated sample traverses the flow cell; (e) collecting a plurality of light scatter signals and at least one fluorescence emission signal from the excited sample; and (f) performing a WBC differential analysis based on all the signals collected in step (e), while removing from consideration any particles within the diluted blood sample that do not meet a fluorescence threshold based on the at least one fluorescence emission signal.