Choosing the Right Hematology Analyzer for Your Lab

Hematology analyzers evaluate and monitor medical conditions, conduct scientific research, and develop drugs. This guide will help you consider important factors when choosing the best hematology analyzer in 2024.

A hematology analyzer will measure several factors in the blood, including:

• Number of red blood cells
• Number of white blood cells
• Number of platelets
• Concentration of hemoglobin
• Hematocrit level
• Other indices related to red blood cells
• Types of white blood cells (also known as a differential)

Introduction

Complete blood count (CBC) is an essential clinical tool for healthcare professionals. It helps them check for infections, anemia, cancer, and other health issues affecting patients. Accurate information is critical for healthcare providers to provide care for their patients. Choosing a suitable Hematology Analyzer for Your Lab can be a daunting task.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a hematology analyzer:

• Workload capacity
• Testing parameters
• Ease of use
• Cost

When choosing a hematology analyzer, it is important to pick a trusted brand. You should also think about service plans and warranties.

Understanding Hematology Analyzer for Your Lab and Their Types

Hematology analyzers use three primary technologies:

• Flow Cytometry: This test examines samples by passing cells through a narrow flow. A laser beam detects light reflected by the cells.
• Electrical Impedance: This type of testing measures the number and volume of cells. A capillary opening dilutes and aspirates the blood while measuring electrical resistance according to size. Researchers sort cells by size, which allows them to count the cells.
• Laser Scattering: This type of testing measures the size distribution of the cells. A laser beam passes through the sample and scatters. You can measure this scatter in angles and relation to the laser. This helps calculate the size of the cells in the sample.

Hematology analyzers can have different features. These features depend on how many parameters they can measure. They also vary in how they differentiate white blood cells. They can be stand-alone units or connected to other analytical modules like biochemistry and immunology analyzers.

You’ll also want to consider your patient population. Hematology analyzers can differ in age range and blood collection method, which may influence your choice of analyzer.

Some labs may need point-of-care hematology testing. This type of testing provides quick results, which is important in places like emergency departments and urgent care. It may also help clinics that lack quick access to lab services, like rural clinics.

The number of components measured by the hematology analyzer plays an important role. Most hematology analyzers will provide some differentiation between types of white blood cells.

Some analyzers will offer a 5-part differential while others provide 7-parts. Differentiation may also be supplied in red blood cells. Many analyzers can measure reticulocytes, which allows for evaluating immature red blood cells.

These are among the testing parameters to consider when choosing a Hematology Analyzer for Your Lab. You’ll want to make sure that the analyzer you select can meet the clinical needs of your laboratory:

• A 3-part differential usually groups white blood cells into small (lymphocytes), medium (monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils), and large.
• A five-part differential will separate white blood cells into five major subgroups: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
• A 7-part differential includes neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, other white cells, and nucleated red blood cells.

Workload capacity may be an important factor depending on the volume of tests that you need to run. The turnaround time for the test is essential as it can influence how many tests you can run. For many labs, the ideal turnaround time is less than 60 seconds.

Another factor influencing workload capacity is the downtime and maintenance an analyzer requires. If the machine is out of commission for maintenance or quality control, the number of tests you can run and the turnaround time decrease.

The amount of machine automation plays a role in turnaround time and workload capacity. The more steps you complete manually, the less streamlined the workflow becomes.

Most machines today are easy to use, but ease of use factors into training costs, downtime, and total cost of ownership. The amount of maintenance needed and the quality control process affect the machine’s ability. These factors can also add significant costs over time.

Storage capacity is another essential factor to consider. The storage capacity is the number of results that the system can store. This allows easy access to past results for comparison and quality control purposes.

Specific agencies may also need to ensure that results are accurate and reliable. Storage capacity refers to how long a system keeps a result before deleting it. It also includes the number of results the system can store and the data types.

Hematology analyzers are designed to flag abnormal results. The sensitivity and specificity of this flagging can help with workflow efficiency.

A quality hematology analyzer will correctly identify and flag abnormal results without causing false alarms. This will decrease costs by lowering the need for repeat testing and manual slide review. Most modern hematology analyzers have a flagging accuracy of over 90%, which means that only 10% of cases are wrongly reported as abnormal.

Cost and Budget Considerations

Budget is a significant consideration when making a substantial financial investment, such as a chemistry analyzer. Many factors influence the cost of a hematology analyzer. Generally, the more complex, automated, or high volume the machine, the more expensive it will be.

Hematology analyzers may range in price from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Refurbished hematology analyzers are generally about half the price.

The reagents used by the machine can be a substantial factor in its cost. Some hematology analyzers use a closed system and can only use specific reagents, while others can accept and use different reagents.

The reagents can be a significant factor in the cost of ownership. Reagents may vary in how often you need to change them, the number of tests you can perform, price, and other factors.

If you expect your lab to grow a lot in the future, consider purchasing an analyzer that you can upgrade. This can save you the cost of researching and buying a new system.

Choosing a reliable distributor is essential. You’ll want a distributor familiar with the brands you are considering. You will probably buy your reagents and supplies from your distributor, so choosing one with a reliable supply will help avoid downtime.

Your distributor will also be integral to the installation and training process. You can buy many Hematology Analyzer for Your Lab directly from the manufacturer or order them from a third-party vendor.

You’ll want to choose a reliable brand when considering a hematology analyzer. The top brands offer a range of options to suit laboratories of all needs and have a reputation for providing reliable machines with high accuracy.

These companies will also offer ongoing product support and have good customer service reputations. Some of the top brands include:

• Beckman Coulter Hematology Analyzer: Beckman Coulter is based in Brea, California. It offers various hematology analyzers, which use automation and artificial intelligence to improve accuracy.
• Sysmex Hematology Analyzer: Sysmex carries a variety of analyzers that can meet the needs of labs of all sizes. This company originated in Japan in 1968 and established an American division in 1979.
• Abbott Hematology Analyzer: Abbott has hematology analyzers ranging from low-volume to high-volume. It is headquartered in Lake County, Illinois.
• Siemens Hematology Analyzer: Siemens Healthineers, headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, offers a range of hematology analyzers for low—to mid-volume labs.
• Drucker Diagnostics Hematology Analyzer: Drucker Diagnostics makes portable, easy-to-use analyzers that do not use liquid reagents. Because of this technology, they advertise that their units are less maintenance-intensive. Drucker Diagnostics has its headquarters in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.

Choosing a Clinical hematology analyzer and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) certification is essential for many labs. CLSI is a non-profit organization that develops quality assurance standards that many laboratories use to improve patient care.

Some laboratories may consider a refurbished hematology analyzer to be able to meet their needs within a tighter budget. When considering refurbished units, there may be additional considerations such as:

• Ensuring that the refurbishing company follows manufacturer standards and offers warranties and service support
• The condition of the analyzer, including maintenance records, manufacturer certifications, and quality control testing records
• Ensuring that the equipment has been tested and certified after being refurbished

Conclusion

Choosing the suitable hematology analyzer to meet your laboratory facility’s and budget needs can be challenging. When making this choice, consider accuracy, reliability, and maintenance needs. Also, consider the total cost of ownership and warranty periods. Balance these factors with your budget.

References

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