Dry Hematology
Dry hematology is unique to the Drucker Diagnostics hematology analyzers and allows users to perform a complete blood count without the addition of any diluent or liquid reagents. Instead, dry hematology uses only a precision sample collection tube that is internally dry coated with all of the necessary reagents, which includes Acridine Orange Fluorochrome stain as well as anticoagulants. Unlike typical laser based or impedance cell counters, dry hematology does not require liquid reagents, does not utilize fluidic handling systems, and does not create liquid waste. Due to the eliminations of fluidics, Drucker’s systems are not susceptible to clogging of fluidic systems or corrosion caused by fluidics and, therefore, these systems require very little preventive maintenance. QBC dry hematology systems can reliably and affordably process as little as one specimen per month, or as many as 10 specimens per day.
When the hematocrit sample collection tube is filled with approximately 65 microliters of either capillary or venous blood, the dry reagents in the tube mix with the blood sample. A precision mechanical expander (float) in the tube expands the Buffy Coat (white blood cells and platelets) and allows the cells to be digitally imaged. Blue LED’s illuminate the sample, causing the stained bands of cells within the tube to fluoresce different colors. The fluorescent light then travels to the camera where the digital image is captured and the cell counts, hematocrit, and hemoglobin are measured. What are the advantages of dry hematology?
1. Simple to use – Simply fill a 65 uL hematocrit tube, cap it, and place it in the analyzer. The sample stays contained in the hematocrit tube during imaging, so the complete tube can be placed in a sharps container when the analysis has finished.
2. Portability – The system can easily be transported from one location to another. Simply plug in and the system will run analytical quality control to confirm functionality.
3. Long Term Storage – Dry hematology allows for room temperature long term storage, easy start-up, and easy shut-down without the need to run cleaning cycles that waste additional reagents. Each test uses an individually packaged disposable with a shelf life of 12 – 18 months.
4. No Maintenance or Calibration – Dry hematology analyzers do not require any routine maintenance and there is no need to recalibrate the device.
5. Analytical Quality Control – Dry hematology systems have multiple built-in analytical quality control (QC) checks that maintain the overall system integrity as well as the quality of the test results.
Dry hematology analyzers provide several advantages over traditional wet hematology analyzers. Dry hematology reagents are generally less volatile, easier to store, and have a much longer shelf life than liquid reagents. Additionally, since these systems allow all reagents to be housed within the disposable sample collection device, required maintenance and upkeep on the analyzer is kept to a minimum, dry hematology is a surprisingly portable, unique technology that provides simple and reliable hematology from a finger stick or venous sample. It is ideal for hospital ED stat labs, infectious disease containment labs, urgent care clinics, pediatric office laboratories, cruise ship clinics, embassy clinics, emergency and disaster response units, military uses, and as a backup system for larger laboratories.
Dry Hematology Instruments
Drucker Diagnostics offers easy to use point of care hematology analyzers for a wide range of applications. All Drucker Diagnostics complete blood count (CBC) analyzers employ our patented quantitative buffy coat (QBC) dry hematology technology. Unlike cell flow analyzers that require the use of liquid reagents, the QBC STAR and the Autoread Plus analyzers provide a 9 parameter CBC from a finger stick, heal stick, or venous draw through the use of our specially designed tube.
Contact our office directly for more information about how switching to a dry hematology analyzer can benefit your patients.
Benefits of Using Drucker Diagnostics Dry Hematology Systems and Analyzers
Drucker Diagnostics is unique among hematology analyzer companies, as all of our machines use our patented dry hematology technology. Benefits of using our powerful dry hematology system instead of a conventional flow cell or wet analyzer system, include:
1. Faster Results – With less start-up or preparation time, a Drucker Diagnostics dry hematology analyzer promotes faster interventions by delivering clinically important blood work results while the patient remains in the office. No more waiting for external lab results!
2. Improved Patient Outcomes – A point of care CBC analyzer provides immediate insight into the clinical condition of the patient by providing the most critical and used parameters for diagnosis.
3. Maintenance-Free Design – There’s no reagent to buy, store, or clean up. Sample tubes can be disposed of immediately after use.
The QBC STAR Dry Hematology Analyzer
The QBC Dry Hematology Analyzer is simple to use and easy to own. As a powerful complete blood count analyzer, the QBC STAR measures hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelet count, MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), and total white blood cell count. The QBC STAR also provides clinically important granulocyte and lymphocyte/monocyte count and percentage. Use the QBC as an in-office CBC analyzer or as a point of care analyzer in urgent care clinics, pediatric offices, military bases, field hospitals, and other remote locations where portability is an asset. The QBC STAR features simple one button operation and provides accurate results without the need for calibration.
The Autoread Plus Portable Dry Hematology Analyzer
Built for use in demanding field conditions, the Autoread Plus is Drucker Diagnostic’s most durable dry hematology analyzer. At just eight pounds, it can be easily transported and set up in remote locations, delivering rapid and accurate CBC results. With its ease of use, the Autoread Plus simplifies work for busy doctors and their support staff. To obtain a CBC, simply collect a small amount of blood from either a finger stick, heal stick, or venous draw into one of our patented QBC tubes, centrifuge the sample for five minutes, and then place the tube in the Autoread Plus reader. In no time at all the external printer will print the 9 parameter CBC results.
QBC Tubes
All Drucker Diagnostics point of care instruments use our patented QBC tube design. Everything that is needed to process a CBC sample is already contained in the tube. Just fill the tube and place it in the analyzer. After the analysis is complete, simply discard the tube in an approved waste container. No additional flushing or cleaning steps are needed to process the next sample since no liquid reagents are used.
For more information about how a Drucker Diagnostics dry hematology analyzer can improve both the quality of care that you offer your patients and the efficiency of your operation, please contact our sales team today.
The QBC Capillary Centrifuge is a low-noise, high-speed instrument specifically designed to meet the cell packing requirements of the QBC test method. QBC centrifugal hematology tests are based on a high-precision glass capillary tube containing an equally precise plastic float. When the tube is filled with blood, sealed, and centrifuged at high speed for 5 minutes, the float is buoyed by the packed red cells, automatically positioning the float within the buffy coat layer, between the packed red cells and the plasma. Up to 20 blood tubes can be spun simultaneously. Nominal speed is 12,000 rpm and relative centrifugal force is approximately 14,387 xg. Spin time is fixed at 5 minutes.
The QBC Autoread Plus has a decade long proven track record of being extremely reliable in the world’s harshest environments. From medical tents in Iraq and Afghanistand to research facilities in Antarctica, the Autoread Plus has proven that it can handle the worst conditions imaginable.
The Autoread Plus Dry Hematology System offers a durable, cost-effective option for conducting hematology testing in virtually any setting. The Autoread Plus System, which consists of a reader, a centrifuge, and an external printer, uses patned dry hematology technology to deliver a 9-parameter, 2 part differential. This results in many benefits for the user.
The QBC STAR™ Dry Hematology System is the gold standard for performing CBC testing in a variety of settings, including office labs and even remote locations. The QBC STAR employs innovative dry hematology technology, meaning that all of the reagents needed to perform a CBC test with the QBC STAR System are contained in the QBC STAR Tube. After filling the tube with the blood sample, the clinician simply places it in the specially designed QBC STAR System and obtains the test results after the analysis is compelte. This unique approach provides multiple benefits for in-office CBC testing.