Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for the volumetric differentiation of leukocytes into at least two populations which are identified as monocytes and granulocytes, respectively, from a whole blood sample, using an automatic particle analyzing system, said method comprising the steps of: I. supplying, for use by the analyzing system for its mixing and analyzing, the whole blood sample and a volume of an isotonically balanced blood diluent; and II. mixing the whole blood sample and the diluent by the analyzing system with a therein supplied lysing reagent in such a manner that the lysing reagent is at a significantly weak concentration and is supplied at a significantly slow rate, so as to subject the leukocytes to a low gradient of lytic shock, so as to result in the volumetric modification of the individual blood cells of at least one of the populations of leukocytes for a significant period of time to thereby enable the automatic differentiation of the leukocyte populations by the analyzing system; the lysing reagent comprising a mixture of an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium salts having surface acting properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for the volumetric differentiation of leukocytes into at least two populations which are identified as monocytes and granulocytes, respectively, from a whole blood sample, using an automatic particle analyzing system, said method comprising the steps of: I. supplying, for use by the analyzing system for its mixing and analyzing, the whole blood sample and a volume of an isotonically balanced blood diluent; and II. mixing the whole blood sample and the diluent by the analyzing system with a therein supplied lysing reagent in such a manner that the lysing reagent is at a significantly weak concentration and is supplied at a significantly slow rate, so as to subject the leukocytes to a low gradient of lytic shock, so as to result in the volumetric modification of the individual blood cells of at least one of the populations of leukocytes for a significant period of time to thereby enable the automatic differentiation of the leukocyte populations by the analyzing system; the lysing reagent comprising a mixture of an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium salts having surface acting properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ratio of whole blood to active lytic ingredients in said lysing reagent approximate the ratio of 1 uL:1.4 mg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 in which said steps of supplying and mixing are accomplished in such a manner that the blood cell volume modification causes the granulocyte population to acquire a volume distribution of larger volume than that of the monocyte population.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of, at least one of, counting and classifying the differentiated populations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the whole blood sample is at least partially diluted with the blood diluent before mixing with the lysing reagent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the lysing reagent is at least partially diluted with the blood diluent before mixing with the whole blood sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the lysing reagent further comprises means for forming a suitable chromagen for hemoglobin determination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said chromagen forming means is an alkali metal cyanide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said quaternary ammonium salts are a mixture of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and said hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide measured in grams per liter are present in the approximate ratio of 13±6:1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said quaternary ammonium salts are a mixture of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and dimethylethylhexadecylammonium bromide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and said dimethylethylhexadecylammonium bromide measured in grams per liter, are present in the approximate ratio of 14±6:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the whole blood sample contains lymphocytes, and the volumetric modification of the blood cells enables three population differentiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the volumetric modification of the blood cells causes the monocyte population to be positioned volumetrically between the lymphocyte and granulocyte populations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises a mixture of: (1) buffering means, (2) cell membrane stabilizing means, and (3) germicidal means; the end volume concentration and total amount of which serve to slow the lysing kinetics upon at least one of the leukocyte populations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said buffering means is N-(1-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA); said cell stabilizing means is Procaine hydrochloride; and said germicidal means is dimethylolurea.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said diluent has a pH of about 7.0±0.4 and an osmolality of about 320±50 mOs/kg.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said quaternary ammonium salts are a mixture of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride is present in a concentration range of 20 to 55 g/L and said tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide is present in a concentration of 2 to 6 g/L.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and said tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide measured in grams per liter, are present in the approximate ratio of 9.5±4:1.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for the volumetric differentiation of at least the monocyte and granulocyte populations obtained from a whole blood sample, said method comprising the steps of: supplying and mixing the whole blood sample and a lysing reagent, the lysing reagent is at a significantly weak concentration and is supplied at a significantly slow rate so as to result in a low gradient of lytic shock and thereby the volumetric modification of the individual blood cells of at least one of the populations of monocytes and granulocytes for a significant period of time to thereby enable the volumetric differentiation of these populations.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for the volumetric differentiation of at least the monocyte and granulocyte populations obtained from a whole blood sample, said method comprising the steps of: supplying and mixing the whole blood sample and a lysing reagent, the lysing reagent is at a significantly weak concentration and is supplied at a significantly slow rate so as to result in a low gradient of lytic shock and thereby the volumetric modification of the individual blood cells of at least one of the populations of monocytes and granulocytes for a significant period of time to thereby enable the volumetric differentiation of these populations.