Hematology Analyzers and Blood Cell Counter History

Hematology Analyzers

• Used to count and identify blood cells at high speed with accuracy, replacing manual counting under a microscope in the 1950s
• First analyzer engineered by Wallace H. Coulter, relying on Coulter's principle (Coulter counter)

Uses of Hematology Analyzers

• Conduct complete blood count (CBC) to determine patient's general health status
• CBC includes: red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin, platelet count, and hematocrit levels
• Other analyses include:
  • RBC distribution width
  • Mean corpuscular volume
  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations
  • WBC differential count in percentage and absolute value
  • Platelet distribution width
  • Platelet mean volume
  • Large platelet cell ratio
  • Platelet criteria

Techniques Used

• Flow cytometry
• Spectrophotometry
• Electrical impedance (Coulter's principle)
• Digital microscopy with AI

Types of Hematology Analyzers

3-Part Differential Cell Counter

• Uses Coulter's principle to find the size and volume of cells
• Differentiates between three types of white blood cells (WBCs): neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes

5-Part Differential Cell Counter

• Utilizes both Coulter's principle and flow cytometry to determine cell granularity, diameter, and inner complexity
• Differentiates all WBC types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes

Components of Hematology Analyzer

• Power source
• Control unit
• Collecting system
• Data storage
• Processing system

Learn about the evolution of hematology analyzers from manual counting to automated systems, and how they identify blood cells with high speed and accuracy.