Patent ID: 6141624
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of analyzing a fluid sample containing a plurality of different types of particles, said method comprising:a) setting a limit for the maximum volume of said fluid sample to be analyzed;b) setting a limit for the number of particles for each of said plurality of different types;c) taking a volume of said fluid sample and analyzing each particle in said volume of said fluid sample including determining the type thereof;d) counting the total volume analyzed;e) stopping the method in the event the total volume counted in step (d) equals or exceeds the limit for the maximum volume set in step (a);f) testing, for each type of particle in the fluid sample determined in step (c), if the total number of particles determined equals or exceeds the limit for said type set in step (b);g) adding the number of particles for each of said type determined in step (c) to the respective total number determined for said type, only if the total number of particles determined for that type does not equal or exceed the limit for said type, set in step (b); andh) reverting to step (c) in the event the method is not stopped by step (e).