ULTRASOUND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF BLOOD FOR BLOOD TYPING, ANTIBODY DETECTION AND FLOW CYTOMETRY

摘要

An ultrasound method for analysis of blood for blood typing, antibody detection or flow cytometry is described in which a blood, serum or plasma sample is introduced with one or more reactants into a chamber which is associated with means providing a standing wave to form an initial aggregate or agglutinate of particles at a pressure node of the standing wave. The product of the blood sample and reactant is subjected to a fluid flow by providing for a fluid flow through the conduit. The behaviour of the aggregate or agglutinate in the fluid flow, when the rate of flow or acoustic pressure is changed identifies a characteristic of the blood, serum or plasma sample, or its content. This characteristic can be identified by monitoring or observing the fluid flow downstream of the pressure node at different flow rates and/or acoustic pressures in the standing wave. Various means to achieve this are described, including fluorescent labelling of a reactant.