Understanding Hematology Analyzers: Functionality and Challenges

This report provides an in-depth analysis of hematology analyzers, focusing on their functionality and the challenges associated with their use. The report highlights the importance of these devices in counting blood cells with high accuracy and speed, discussing their role in measuring various blood parameters such as mean corpuscular volume, WBC differential counts, and platelet characteristics. It also addresses the limitations and potential inaccuracies that can arise, including issues related to sample handling, equipment malfunctions, and operator error. Furthermore, the report examines the need for automated systems to ensure safety and reduce exposure to pathogens. It concludes with a discussion of future trends, including the integration of whole blood testing instruments for comprehensive blood profiles, offering insights into the evolution of hematology analyzers and their impact on patient care.

Running head: BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
DISCUSSION POST ON HEMATOLOGY ANALYZERS
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1BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Hematology analyzers have been used in order to count and detect the number of
blood cells with a combination of high speed and accuracy. This device has been used to
measure mean corpuscular volume, RBC distribution width, mean corpuscular hemoglobin,
WBC differential count as absolute and percentages, distribution of platelet width, mean
volume of platelet, large ration of platelet cell and criteria of platelet1.
The most important issues associated with hematology analyzers are risks of
inaccurate results which delays the treatment or supports an inappropriate treatment. The
analyzers have been found to be based on employing the volumetric independence in an
occasional experience which is associated with the clogging and counting errors when cloudy
specimens are observed. Electromechanical devices are never found to operate correctly all
over time. Various patient samples associated with leukemia, uremia, and
immunosuppression can result in an abnormal and false low WBC count which is caused by
cellular damage inside the aperture. RBCs can also be found to clump with the coldness of
the specimen which results in the high mean concentration of corpuscular hemoglobin
concentration values (MCHC). Various sample feed problems have been found to be traced to
small vacuum leakages in the plastic tubing maze. Designs associated with light scattering
can be stated to suffer from a misalignment of light or laser beam, debris associated with
electronic noise and sample stream. This leads to the generation of the tendency to
inaccurately record the high cell counts. Usage of expired or wrong diluent has been found to
be flushed and introduces new problems in which no instrumental malfunctioning exists.
Most of the problems have been found to be inside the purview of the lab technician in order
to correct or prevent the situation. Inexperienced technicians have been found to become the
1 Shaikh, Muhammad Shariq, and Sidra Asad Ali. "Clinical utility of immature platelet fraction-an
advanced parameter in laboratory hematology." (2016): 798.

2BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
primary reasons for the failure of this device2. These are the overall problems which are
associated with hematological analyzers and their effects on the human life condition.
In order to protect the personnel from both hepatitis and HIV patients, instrumental
designs must be automated in transferring the blood sample from collection tubes to the
instruments. Various future and modern designs have been found to automate the process in
order to reduce and eliminate aerosols which occur with the removal of the cap from the
collection tube. Previously, lab technicians have been found to open the cap directly and put
the sample into the analyzer. Thus, it has been found that safe designs require the operator to
insert the still capped collection tube inside a sample carrier that is driven automatically
inside the instrument. Future big steps will include the understanding of analyzers' ability in
performing the extended differential counts. The integration of several whole blood testing
instruments will be seen to be complete systems for providing a more encompassing blood
profile to the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment. This is all about hematology analyzers.
2 Bennaoum, Mohammed Nazim, Hassiba Lazreg, Affaf Adda, and Mohamed Hammadi. "A new
proposition for the screening of platelet function defects using a hematology analyzer." Medical
hypotheses 101 (2017): 28-29.

3BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
References
Bennaoum, Mohammed Nazim, Hassiba Lazreg, Affaf Adda, and Mohamed Hammadi. "A
new proposition for the screening of platelet function defects using an hematology
analyzer." Medical hypotheses 101 (2017): 28-29
Shaikh, Muhammad Shariq, and Sidra Asad Ali. "Clinical utility of immature platelet
fraction-an advanced parameter in laboratory hematology." (2016): 798.