Bayer Corporation

Phyllis Shapiro

Michael J Malin

John F Cremins

The invention provides a new method and system for detecting and monitoring extracellular or exogenously added hemoglobin, i.e., a cell-free hemoglobin substitute or derivative, in a blood, plasma, or serum sample of an individual, particularly a whole blood sample. The invention further describes the use of automated hematology analyzers to determine and quantify at the same time the concentration of total, cellular and exogenous hemoglobin in a blood, plasma, or serum sample, and is particularly advantageous for medical use during or after patient trauma or surgery, as well as for monitoring hemoglobin levels during patient recovery.

Automated method for detecting, quantifying and monitoring exogenous hemoglobin in whole blood, plasma and serum

The present invention provides a heretofore unknown use for a aqueous reagent composition that serves as a universal rinse for performing and/or improving a variety of hematological analyses on automated analyzers. The universal rinse reagent comprises a phosphate buffer to maintain the rinse solution pH at from about 7.0 to about 7.6; a nonhemolytic nonionic surfactant, such as a Pluronic.RTM. an alkali metal salt, such as NaCi; antimicrobial and anti-oxidant compounds; and has an osmolality of about 285 to 305 mOsmol/kg. The universal rinse reagent composition is highly suitable for use in the rinse phases or cycles of all types of blood cell analysis methods and processes performed on semi- and fully-automated systems. The invention allows the replacement of mutiple and specific rinse solutions with the disclosed universal rinse to obtain accurate and acceptable results, independent of the types of blood cell analyses that are performed. The universal rinse is most particularly useful for automated systems having intricate hardware and a number of different input and output channels. The universal rinse composition serves to economize, streamline, and simplify the design and operation of such systems.

Universal rinse reagent and method for use in hematological analyses of

The present invention provides an improved reagent composition and method to perform white blood cell differential counting and subpopulation analysis using both fresh and aged blood samples with accuracy and precision. The invention is particularly applicable for the analysis of aged blood samples that have been stored at room temperature for over a day, thereby allowing accurate and useful information to be obtained from samples that are normally considered to be suboptimal. The improved reagent composition and method are particularly related to the peroxidase method of white blood cell differential determinations. One aspect of the invention includes an improved aqueous reagent composition for carrying out the peroxidase method of differential counting. Another aspect includes the use of a rinse cycle and rinse solution devoid of hemolytic surfactant to alleviate the adverse effects of rinse carryover and to streamline and economize the analytical process, particularly when the analyses are performed on automated hematology analyzers and flow cytometry systems. The composition and method of the invention provide clinically useful data for the differential analysis of whole blood samples.

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Yorktown Heights, NY, United States of America

Phyllis Shapiro