Automated 3-Part Blood Cell Counter with Autoloader

What is the Automated 3-Part Blood Cell Counter with Autoloader?

An automated 3-part counter with an autoloader accepts racks of closed blood tubes and processes them without operator attendance, giving a three-part differential at moderate throughput. It suits clinics and small hospital laboratories that receive batches of fifty to one hundred samples in the morning peak.

Overview

This variant adds a rack-based autoloader and a cap-piercing or open-tube sampling mechanism to the standard 3-part platform. Tubes are loaded in racks of ten or more, identified by barcode, aspirated, and returned to the rack while the next sample is measured, so one operator can run a morning batch while performing other tasks. Mixing before aspiration is performed by rotating the tube or by an internal mixer, which reduces the risk of sedimentation error. Throughput is typically 60 to 90 samples per hour, and the instrument usually supports continuous loading so that STAT samples can be inserted without stopping the batch. The software handles automatic reruns, delta checks against the previous result and storage of several tens of thousands of records.

How does it work?

A 3-part analyzer aspirates a small volume of anticoagulated whole blood, then splits it into separate channels for dilution and measurement. Red cells and platelets are counted in an isotonic diluent by the Coulter principle, in which each cell passing a small aperture displaces conductive electrolyte and creates a voltage pulse proportional to cell volume. White cells are counted in a second channel where a lysing reagent destroys red cell membranes while leaving white cells intact for sizing. The analyzer sorts white cells into three populations using two software thresholds on the size histogram: lymphocytes, a mixed population of monocytes, eosinophils and basophils, and granulocytes. Hemoglobin is released by lysis and measured photometrically at about 540 nm after conversion to a stable chromogen. Software computes indices such as MCV, MCH and MCHC, applies quality control rules, and stores or transmits the report.

What are the key features?

• Rack-based autoloader holding ten or more closed tubes
• Continuous loading so STAT samples can interrupt a running batch
• Barcode identification with automatic worklist matching
• Tube mixing before aspiration to reduce sedimentation error
• Automatic rerun and delta check for flagged results
• Throughput of 60 to 90 samples per hour with three-part differential

What are the technical specifications?

A typical automated 3-part blood cell counter with autoloader configuration offers throughput of 60–90 samples/h with 3-part differential, autoloader capacity of 10 tubes per rack; up to 5 racks queued, sample identification of Barcode reader, code 128 and code 39, aspiration mode of Closed-tube cap piercing or open-tube, reportable parameters of 22 parameters including three-part differential and data storage of 50,000 patient records with QC history. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Automated 3-Part Blood Cell Counter with Autoloader is used in morning batch blood counts in clinics, small hospital laboratory routine hematology, occupational health and insurance screening and outpatient department blood counts. Across the wider 3-Part Analyzers class, laboratories also deploy it for routine complete blood counts in community clinics, anemia and infection screening and pre-operative and antenatal blood counts.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 15189, CLSI H26-A2, CLSI H20-A2, CLSI EP05, IEC 61010-1 and IEC 61010-2-101. Certification candidates for this model are CE, ISO 13485 manufacturing and NMPA class II registration; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Place the analyzer on a stable, level bench away from direct sunlight, strong vibration and large electrical motors, with a grounded outlet and a supply of clean, low-particulate water if the instrument needs it. Perform installation verification with the manufacturer or distributor, including background counts, precision, carryover and linearity checks with fresh or stabilized blood. Run two or three levels of quality control at the start of each working day and after reagent changes. Daily cleaning of the aspiration probe, weekly cleaning of the apertures and periodic replacement of pump tubing, seals and the peristaltic pump keep results stable. Treat all blood samples, waste and control material as potentially infectious and follow local biosafety rules for decontamination and disposal.

How do I select the right Automated 3-Part Blood Cell Counter with Autoloader?

Specify this variant when more than about fifty tubes arrive together and staff cannot spend the peak hour at the analyzer. State the tube diameters and heights to be accepted, the barcode symbologies used locally, and whether cap piercing is required for biohazard safety. Confirm the rack queue size, the time needed to switch between rack types and the behaviour after a power interruption, and ask for a barcode read rate specification.

How does it compare with other 3-Part Analyzers variants?

Choose a 3-part analyzer when the clinicians served mainly need total counts, hemoglobin and a basic differential, and when the daily workload is low enough that a 5-part flow cytometry channel would not be used. Compare variants by throughput in samples per hour, minimum aspiration volume for capillary sampling, whether the reagent system is open or proprietary, and the quality of the histogram display. Confirm autoloader capacity if more than fifty samples arrive in a batch, check barcode and LIS connectivity, and review the calibration and control materials offered. Ask about the expected life of the shear valve and pump tubing, because these parts dominate maintenance cost, and about local service response time for a clinic without an in-house engineer.