Patent ID: 8512977
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of analyzing immature reticulocytes in a blood sample comprising: (a) measuring the cell volume and the light scatter of cells in the blood sample using a flow cell to generate particle data in volume—light scatter parameter space; (b) analyzing, using a computer, blood cell distribution patterns from the particle data to identify a set of particles corresponding to a population of reticulocytes in the blood sample; (c) generating a polynomial curve defining the relationship between reticulocyte volume and reticulocyte immaturity for a plurality of blood samples from a population of individuals and dividing the resulting polynomial curve into a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a reticulocyte maturity level; (d) mathematically superimposing, using the computer, the polynomial curve onto the blood cell distribution patterns in volume—light scatter parameter space corresponding to the population of reticulocytes in the blood sample; (e) mapping, using the computer, the set of reticulocyte particles in volume-light-scatter parameter space onto the polynomial curve using the shortest distance from the location of the reticulocyte particle in volume—light scatter parameter space to the polynomial curve by assigning each particle to the nearest segment of the polynomial curve; (f) counting the number of particles assigned to each segment of the polynomial curve to create a distribution of reticulocyte particles along the polynomial curve segments, thereby differentiating immature reticulocytes from mature reticulocytes; and (g) reporting immature reticulocytes in the blood sample.