CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
December 2014—Two new analyzers and a new workcell automation solution are in this year’s product guide to hematology analyzers.
Sysmex’s newest offering is its XN-1000 R Automated Hematology Analyzer, an entry-level XN system for laboratories that run fewer than 100 CBCs per day. The module uses fluorescent technology and performs automated reticulocyte and body fluid testing. The system is compatible with My Sysmex, a mobile lab assistant that displays real-time analyzer performance data and enables users to quickly locate and share performance information and consolidate reports.
CellaVision launched its CellaVision DM9600 in July. “The development of a replacement for our most successful analyzer, the CellaVision DM96, has been ongoing,” says Karin Dahllöf, vice president of sales and marketing. CellaVision’s new instrument, she says, is based on the same hardware platform as its other systems.
The DM9600 automatically performs a preliminary differential count on peripheral blood or body fluid smears. The continuous-feed analyzer preclassifies the white blood cells, pre-characterizes parts of the red morphology, and provides functionality for platelet estimation. The preliminary result requires verification by a medical technologist.
Alongside the launch of the DM9600, Cella- Vision introduced its latest software, the Cella- Vision Advanced RBC Application, outside the U.S. The application, which complements Cella-Vision’s Peripheral Blood Application, enables pre-characterization of red blood cells into 21 individual morphologies based on shape, size, color, or inclusion characteristics. By providing additional characterization parameters with enriched functionality for red blood cell review, the application offers a new way to review erythrocyte morphology and supports a comprehensive and detailed red blood cell analysis, Dahllöf says. “It gives customers unprecedented opportunities to review red blood cells based on shape, size, and color, an important analysis for different blood disorders.” The product will be launched in the U.S. subject to FDA clearance.
Beckman Coulter began last month installing its new DxH Connected Workcells. The modular and scalable DxH Workcell automation solutions make it possible for laboratories to connect up to three DxH analyzers to a DxH Slidemaker Stainer without the need for additional track-based automation components. The units analyze on average more than 8,000 white blood cells per sample and have the capability to extend analysis to 50,000 WBCs for leukopenic samples, without the need for additional sample aspirations or modes of analysis. Low review rates and first-pass accuracy in results reporting are driven by the company’s Automated Intelligent Morphology, a multidimensional, high-definition flow cytometric technology. The AIM technology also includes analysis of nuclear cells with five angles of laser light scatter.
Detailed information on the analyzers from these three companies and from Abbott Hematology, Horiba ABX Diagnostics, Medica, and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics are on pages 21–38. Companies supplied the information listed. Readers interested in a particular product should confirm it has the stated features and capabilities. —Kristen Eberhard