Patent ID: 8980635
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of analyzing a blood sample in a cartridge, the method comprising: receiving a blood sample via a blood sample introduction port of the cartridge, the blood sample being drawn into a sample collection reservoir by capillary action; applying a negative pressure to one or more vacuum ports of the cartridge, the negative pressure causing the blood sample to be drawn from the sample collection reservoir, through one or more open valves, and into a cuvette of an absorbance measurement channel and into at least part of an optical scattering measurement channel having a hydrodynamic focusing region; closing the one or more valves; receiving a reagent via a reagent introduction port, the reagent mixing with the blood sample in the optical scattering measurement channel upstream of the hydrodynamic focusing region; receiving a sheath fluid via a sheath fluid introduction port, the sheath fluid being injected at or near the hydrodynamic focusing region of the optical scattering measurement channel; performing an optical scatter measurement using a window that is adjacent the hydrodynamic focusing region of the optical scattering measurement channel; and performing an absorbance measurement using the cuvette of the absorbance measurement channel.