University of South Florida

Sharyn Orton

Luis Humberto Garcia-Rubio

German Leparc

Robert L Potter

Yvette Mattley

Christina Bacon

Smita Narayanan

A method and apparatus for characterizing the type of a blood sample and a variety of blood components are provided wherein a transmission spectrum of the sample is collected over a predetermined wavelength range. For blood typing, this spectrum is then compared with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples having known blood types, from which the type of the blood sample can be determined. Further methods and apparatus are provided for determining the viability of and for cross matching a platelet unit Additional method and apparatus permit analysis of the sample for the presence of a contaminant, Particles can also be counted in the sample, even when present in low concentrations, including white blood cell.

Spectrophotometric method and apparatus for the cross-matching of platelets

A method and apparatus for characterizing the type of a blood sample and a variety of blood components are provided wherein a transmission spectrum of the sample is collected over a predetermined wavelength range. For blood typing, this spectrum is then compared with a set of control spectra collected from control blood samples having known blood types, from which the type of the blood sample can be determined. Further methods and apparatus are provided for determining the viability of and for cross matching a platelet unit. Additional method and apparatus permit analysis of the sample for the presence of a contaminant. Particles can also be counted in the sample, even when present in low concentrations, including white blood cell.

Spectrophotometric method  for determining the viability of a sample containing platelets

A method and apparatus for characterizing the type of a blood sample are provided wherein an optical density spectrum of the sample is collected over a predetermined wavelength range. A reference optical density spectrum is collected over a predetermined wavelength range for a portion of the blood sample diluted in saline. Another portion of the blood sample is then mixed with an antibody corresponding to a known blood type (e.g., anti-A, anti-B, anti-D antibody). The optical density spectrum is then collected over a predetermined wavelength range for blood diluted with saline and each antibody in saline. The slopes are then calculated over a predetermined wavelength range for each spectrum. A numerical indicator of agglutination is then calculated by dividing the slope of each antibody-treated sample by the slope of the sample in saline. The resulting number is multiplied by 100. The agglutination index (AI) is arrived at by subtracting this number from 100 so that the magnitude of the AI is a reflection of the degree of agglutination of the sample. A high index value indicates large agglutination (i.e., strong interaction with antibody). Blood type is determined by comparing the AI to a predetermined empirical cutoff value. Typically cutoff values greater than 17 indicate type-specific interaction (type AB samples yield AI values over 17 with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, while type O samples yield AI values less than 17 with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies).

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Frederick, MD, United States of America

Sharyn Orton