Computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus

A computer for receiving first and second sample attribute information regarding attributes of a sample, for determining parameter identification information for identifying a smear control parameter on the basis of the first sample attribute information, for generating first and second instruction to make a smear preparing apparatus prepare a smear of a sample, the first instruction including the parameter identification information, and the second instruction including the second sample attribute information, for transmitting the first and second instruction to the smear preparing apparatus is disclosed.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-260432 filed Sep. 8, 2004, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of sampled blood, bone-marrow fluid and the like.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, in order to observe blood or the like by a microscope or the like, a smear preparing apparatus in which blood or the like is dropped on a slide glass and smeared by a spreader glass (smearing member) to generate a smear is used.

Since each sample has different characteristics such as particle density, viscosity and the like, if the smear is always generated under the same condition, the smear becomes unsuitable for observation in some samples.

Therefore, there is known a smear preparing apparatus in which the smearing parameter is set every sample based on a measurement result from a blood analyzer (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,903).

According to such conventional apparatus, the smearing parameter is determined based on a hematocrit value, for example. In addition, since it is known that blood viscosity is increased as a hemoglobin amount is increased in general, it is considered that the smearing parameter is set based on the measurement result of the hemoglobin amount.

In addition, although the method of setting the smearing parameter by the above conventional apparatus is very effective when the smear is automatically generated, it does not respond to a case of the special sample or various kinds of user's needs.

For example, although the hematocrit value of a leukemia patient is normal or slightly small, it has been found that the WBC (White Blood Cell) of the leukemia patient is weak and liable to be destroyed.

When a blood smear of such patient is made, it is necessary to make it thicker than the smear made under the smearing parameter based on the normal hematocrit value when the blood on the slide glass is smeared by the spreader glass, so as not to destroy the WBC.

In addition, observers who observe the smear by a microscope have different demands for the smear. That is, some observers want to observe thin and spread smear and some observers want to observe the smear thickly collected in a small region.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a computer used for preparing a smear of a sample, which is easy to observe.

A first aspect of the present invention is a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of a sample on a slide glass based on a smear control parameter, the computer comprising: a receiver for receiving first and second sample attribute information regarding attributes of a sample; an identification information determining means for determining parameter identification information for identifying the smear control parameter on the basis of the first sample attribute information; an instruction generating means for generating first and second instruction to make the smear preparing apparatus prepare the smear of a sample, the first instruction including the parameter identification information determined by the identification information determining means, and the second instruction including the second sample attribute information; and a transmitter for transmitting the first and second instruction generated by the instruction generating means to the smear preparing apparatus, wherein when the parameter identification information is determined by the identification information determining means, the instruction generating means generates the first instruction and the transmitter transmits the first instruction and, when the parameter identification information is not determined by the identification information determining means, the instruction generating means generates the second instruction and the transmitter transmits the second instruction.

A second aspect of the present invention is a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of a sample on a slide glass based on a smear control parameter, the computer comprising: a receiver for receiving sample attribute information regarding an attribute of a sample; a setting means for setting parameter identification information for identifying the smear control parameter and a condition used for determining the parameter identification information so as to be associated with each other; an identification information determining means for determining the parameter identification information on the basis of the sample attribute information received by the receiver and the condition set by the setting means; and a transmitter for transmitting the parameter identification information determined by the identification information determining means to the smear preparing apparatus.

A third aspect of the present invention is a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of a sample on a slide glass based on smear control parameter and an analyzer for analyzing a sample and outputting analysis results of a plurality of measurement items, the computer comprising: a receiver for receiving the analysis results output from the analyzer; a memory for storing a condition regarding analysis results of a plurality of measurement items; a determining means for determining parameter identification information for identifying the smear control parameter on the basis of the analysis results received by the receiver and the condition stored in the memory; and a transmitter for transmitting the parameter identification information determined by the determining means to the smear preparing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a smearing preparing system is described with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 1, a system100comprises a loader102, a conveyer103, and an unloader111, and a blood analyzer106, and a smear preparing apparatus108are arranged along the conveyer103.

A conveyance controller109for controlling the loader102, the conveyer103and the unloader111is provided and a host computer107which exchanges information or instructs among the blood analyzer106, the smear preparing apparatus108and the conveyance controller109or gives instructions to them is provided.

A plurality of sample racks101is put on the loader102. The sample racks101are conveyed to a carry-in end of the conveyer103adjacent to the loader102in the direction shown by an arrow A and then get off the loader102. As shown inFIG. 2, each sample rack101has a plurality of sample containers104which contain blood samples.

The sample racks101are conveyed by the conveyer103in the direction of an arrow B and reach a discharge end110of the conveyer103through in front of the blood analyzer106and the smear preparing apparatus108. Then, the sample racks101are conveyed in the direction of an arrow C by the unloader111adjacent to the discharge end110of the conveyer103.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 2, a barcode label200including identification information showing sample number (Sample ID) of the sample is attached on each sample container104. Windows112are provided on the longitudinal side of the sample rack101through which the barcode on the sample container104is read.

When the sample rack101containing the sample containers104is put on the loader102, the system100is started. Then, the first sample rack101is moved in the direction of the arrow B by the conveyer103and stops at the blood analyzer106.

Here, the barcode of the first sample container104is read by a barcode reader113. The blood analyzer106analyzes the sample in the sample container104and reports the analyzed result to the host computer107together with the barcode information. The blood analyzer106repeats the above operations until samples of all sample containers104are analyzed. The host computer107determines whether it is necessary to prepare the smear for that sample or not based on the analyzed result.

Then, the sample rack101having only the samples whose smear no longer needs to be prepared passes through the smear preparing apparatus108on the conveyer103which is controlled by the conveyance controller109based on a command of the host computer and reaches the unloader111. The sample rack101containing the sample whose smear needs to be prepared is moved to reach the smear preparing apparatus108by the conveyer103which is controlled by the conveyance controller109based on the command of the host computer107. The barcode of each sample container104is read by the barcode reader113of the smear preparing apparatus108and transmitted to the host computer107. When the host computer107determines that the smear needs to be prepared, the smear preparing apparatus108takes a sample whose smear needs to be prepared from the sample container104and prepares a smear of blood for it. Meanwhile, the sample container104whose smear no longer needs to be prepared is moved further in the direction of the arrow B and the next sample container104reaches the smear preparing apparatus108.

Then, the sample rack101which passed through the smear preparing apparatus108on the conveyer103reaches the unloader111.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of the smear preparing apparatus108. The smear preparing apparatus108comprises a memory20, an input unit30, a CPU40, a sample dispenser70, a spreader glass driving mechanism50and the barcode reader113.

The memory20comprises a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk. The input unit30comprises a keyboard.

Smear control parameters are set so as to correspond to smearing levels through the input unit30and stored in the memory20. The smear control parameters are previously stored before the smearing is actually performed.

FIG. 4is a table showing relations between the smearing levels and smear control parameters stored in the memory20.

As shown inFIG. 4, each of the smearing levels1to10corresponds to the smear control parameters such as a speed (movement speed of a spreader glass), an angle (which is formed between the spreader glass and a slide glass), a fitting time (after the spreader glass comes in contact with sample dispensed on the slide glass until the spreader glass starts to move) and amount of dispensed sample (amount of sample dispensed on the slide glass). In addition, the smear control parameter may comprise smearing starting position on the slide glass and the like. Alternately, conditions such as speed and angle can be eliminated from the smear control parameters.

As shown inFIG. 4, default values of smear control parameters are preliminarily set with respect to all of smearing levels1to10. An HCT (hematocrit value) range is made correspond to each of the smearing levels and the smearing control parameters with respect to all of the smearing levels1to5. Default values are also preliminarily set for the HCT ranges. The HCT range is used, as will be described later, when the host computer107does not instruct a smearing level to the smear preparing apparatus108. The smear preparing apparatus108is constructed so that the user can arbitrarily set the smear control parameters at the smearing levels1to10and the HCT range at the smearing levels1to5.

When a replay to an inquiry for preparing a smear is received from the host computer107, the CPU40reads corresponding smear control parameters from the memory20, controls operations of the spreader glass driving mechanism50and the sample dispenser70on the basis of the read smear control parameters (speed, angle, fitting time, and amount of dispensed sample) to prepare a smear of blood.

FIG. 5is a view showing a schematic constitution of the spreader glass driving mechanism50in the smear preparing apparatus108. The spreader glass driving mechanism50comprises a back-and-forth driving mechanism52which moves the spreader glass62parallel to the surface of a slide glass60, a vertical driving mechanism56which elevates the spreader glass to and from the slide glass60, and an angle retaining mechanism54which retains the angle formed between the spreader glass62and the slide glass60. The back-and-forth driving mechanism52and the vertical driving mechanism56are provided for moving the spreader glass62back and forth, and up and down, and each comprises a belt-motor mechanism provided with a motor M and a belt.

According to the back-and-forth driving mechanism52, a moving speed of the spreader glass62can be adjusted by a rotation speed of the belt motor.

In addition, the angle retaining mechanism54comprises an elastic member66which pulls the spreader glass62so as to be rotated around a spindle64, and a stopper68which fixes a limit of rotation, in which after an end of the spreader glass comes in contact with the slide glass60, it is further lowered so that the angle formed with the slide glass60is changed.

FIG. 6is a view showing a state in which the angle between the spreader glass62and the slide glass60is retained large by the angle retaining mechanism54andFIG. 7is a view showing a state in which the angle is retained small. The angle formed between the spreader glass62and the slide glass60is adjusted by an expansion state of the elastic member66.

FIG. 8is a block diagram showing a host computer107. The host computer107has a controller80, an input unit81, an external information receiver82, a display86and a transmitter94. The controller80has a CPU87and a memory88. The memory88has a smearing level condition storage83, an analysis result storage84, a patient medical record storage85, and a transmitted smearing level storage93. The external information receiver82and the transmitter94take the form of input/output interfaces.

The host computer107stores a smearing level input from the input unit81and smearing level conditions which are set so as to be associated with the smearing level into the smearing level condition storage83. The host computer107also stores an analysis result (including a measurement value of each of measurement items and an abnormality message) from the blood analyzer106received by the external information receiver82together with a sample number (sample ID) to identify the sample into the analysis result storage84. The host computer107also transmits information such as necessity to prepare a smear, a smearing level, and the like to the smear preparing apparatus108by the transmitter94.

The host computer107also stores a medical record of a sample provider (patient) and identification information (patient ID) for specifying the sample provider (patient), received by the external information receiver82from a hospital host computer89(external terminal) into the patient medical record storage85. The identification information for specifying the sample provider is associated with the sample number. From the sample number, the sample provider and the medical record of the provider can be specified. The display86displays a setting item and the details of a setting, which are input from the input unit81by the user. A hospital host computer89is a host computer for controlling the hospital in a centralized manner, and is connected to the host computer107.

The input unit81comprises a keyboard and a mouse, the display86comprises an LCD, the external information receiver82and transmitter94comprise an I/O port, and memory88comprises a ROM, RAM, and a hard disk.

FIG. 9shows an example of a screen displayed on the display86when the user sets conditions (smearing level conditions) related to the smearing level by using the input unit81.

InFIG. 9, any of6to10is input as a number indicative of the smearing level (FIG. 4) in box (a). As the smearing level conditions corresponding to the smearing level input in the box (a), the upper and lower limit values of a WBC (White Blood Cell count) are input in boxes (b) and (c), respectively. The upper and lower limit values of an RBC (Red Blood Cell count) are input in boxes (d) and (e), respectively. An abnormality message is input in box (f), and patient medical record information is input in box (g). Furthermore, the WBC and RBC can be changed to other measurement items by operating combo boxes91and92by the user.

By setting the smearing level conditions in accordance with the measurement value of a predetermined measurement item such as the RBC, WBC, or the like, a smear of blood can be prepared with special smear control parameters according to the measurement value of the predetermined measurement item. Thus, an easy-to-observe smear of blood can be prepared. By setting the smearing level conditions in accordance with measurement values of a plurality of measurement items, as compared with the case of using the measurement value of one measurement item for the smearing level conditions, various smearing level conditions can be set. This facilitates preparation of a smear of blood with a predetermined smear control parameter only from a sample matching the special condition.

An abnormality message is a message indicative of an abnormality of the sample, such as “white blood cell abnormality”, “neutropenia”, “neutrophilia”, “lymphopenia”, “lymphocytosis”, “red blood cell abnormality”, “anemia”, “hemagglutination”, “hemoglobin abnormality”, “platelet abnormality” reported from the blood analyzer106to the host computer107together with numerical values (measurement values) of analysis items. One or a plurality of the messages is/are selected and set in the box (f). The abnormal messages are output from the blood analyzer106in the case where an analysis result of a sample matches the conditions preliminarily determined by the blood analyzer106, and are messages indicating that occurrence of something abnormal in the sample is expected.

By using the smearing level conditions for an abnormal message, a smear of blood can be prepared with the special smear control parameters from a sample expected to have some abnormality. Thus, an easy-to-observe smear of blood can be prepared.

The patient medical record information is information described in a patient chart, such as personal information of a sample provider (age, sex, medical history, ward name, medical department, and the like), information of clinical records (information such as the name of a disease, patient's condition, and medicine being taken), and the like. In box (g), one or a plurality of pieces of the information is/are selected and set.

By using the patient medical record information as one of the smearing level conditions, the smearing level conditions can be set respectively by ward name or by disease. Consequently, a smear of blood according to the characteristics of the sample can be prepared, and an easy-to-observe smear of blood can be prepared.

The smearing level conditions may include, in addition to the above conditions, information indicating that a sample provider is in postoperative state, information indicating that the sample provider underwent or is going to undergo dialysis, a comment on to the inspection of last time (for example, a comment indicating that the quality of the smear of blood of last time was not good), or the like. The smearing level conditions do not always have to include all of the above information.

FIG. 10shows an example of a screen displayed after the setting of the smearing level conditions is finished. The smearing level and the smearing level conditions, which are set, are stored into the smearing level condition storage83. In the case where there are smearing levels and smearing level conditions which are preliminarily stored in the smearing level condition storage83, the pre-stored information is replaced with the smearing level and the smearing level conditions which are input by using the screen ofFIG. 9(FIG. 10).

In the case of the smearing level conditions which are set in the screen shown inFIG. 10, the blood analyzer106outputs the information that the WBC is larger than 70 and smaller than 120, the RBC is larger than 10 and smaller than 20, and “lymphopenia” as an abnormality message. In the case where the patient medical record information of the sample provider includes “leukemia”, the smearing level is determined as “8”. A box in which a condition is not set is made blank. For example, if the boxes of the abnormality message and the patient medical record information are made blank, in the case where the WBC is larger than 70 and smaller than 120 and the RBC is larger than 10 and smaller than 20, the smearing level is determined as “8” regardless of the presence or absence of the abnormality message and the patient medical record information.

When the host computer107is delivered to a facility such as a hospital, default values of the smearing level and the smearing level condition are preferably pre-stored in the smearing level condition storage83. Consequently, the user can prepare a smear of blood by a predetermined smear control parameter without newly setting the smearing level conditions.

FIG. 13shows an example of a table created as a result of setting of a smearing level and a smearing level condition by the user inFIG. 9. The table is stored in the smearing level condition storage83. In the table, for example, a sample having a WBC measurement value which is larger than 40 and smaller than 70, having an RBC measurement value which is larger than 300 and smaller than 500, and having no abnormality message, and to which no patient medical record information is input satisfies the smearing level conditions corresponding to the smearing level6. In this embodiment, when a sample satisfies all of conditions such as the WBC measurement value and the RBC measurement value, it is determined that the sample satisfies the smearing level conditions. It is also possible to determine that a sample satisfying at least one of the conditions such as the WBC measurement value and the RBC measurement value corresponds to the smearing level conditions. For instance, in the example ofFIG. 13, the sample whose WBC measurement value is larger than 40 and smaller than 70, whose RBC measurement value is larger than 300 and smaller than 500, having no abnormality message, or to which no medical record information is input, may be determined as a sample corresponding to smearing level conditions corresponding to the smearing level6.

When the sample number (sample ID) is received from the smear preparing apparatus108, the host computer107extracts the analysis result and the medical record information corresponding to the sample ID from the storages84and85, and determines whether a corresponding smearing level condition exists in the table shown inFIG. 13or not on the basis of the extracted information. If there is a smearing level condition to which the extracted information corresponds, the host computer107transmits the smearing level corresponding to the smearing level condition and the HCT value included in the analysis result corresponding to the sample ID to the smear preparing apparatus108. In the case where there is no smearing level condition to which the extracted information corresponds, the host computer107does not transmit the smearing level, but transmits the HCT value included in the analysis result corresponding to the sample ID to the smear preparing apparatus108. The smear preparing apparatus108, which receives the smearing level determines a smear control parameter on the basis of the received smearing level or the HCT value. As described above, the smearing level is information for identifying the smearing level condition and the smear control parameter. The smearing level condition is a condition used to determine the smear control parameter.

A series of operations of the smear preparing system100is described with reference to flowcharts inFIGS. 11 and 12.

First, inFIG. 11, the host computer107receives medical record information of the provider of the sample (patient) and order information from the hospital host computer89and stores it (step S1a). The order information is information in which the sample number (the sample ID) for identifying the sample, information of whether analysis in the blood analyzer106is necessary or not (presence or absence of a measurement instruction), and information of whether preparation of a smear of blood in the smear preparing apparatus108is necessary or not are associated with each other.

The host computer107transmits the order information to the conveyance controller109(step S1b).

Next, in the host computer107, the smearing level and the smearing level condition are set by using the screens shown inFIGS. 9 and 10(step S2). It is not necessary to perform the process of the step S2every day, but it is sufficient to execute the process when preparation of a smear of blood becomes necessary in the special smear control parameter.

When a plurality of sample containers104(FIG. 2) containing samples and being mounted on the sample rack101are loaded in the loader102by the user, the system100starts and the loader102and the conveyer103are driven by the conveyance controller109. By this driving, the sample rack101is conveyed to the front of the blood analyzer106and is stopped (step S3). The barcode (the sample number) of each of the sample containers104is read by the blood analyzer106(step S4), and the sample is sucked from the sample container104and is analyzed (step S5). An analysis result (a measurement value of each of analysis items and an abnormality message) is transmitted from the blood analyzer106to the host computer107together with the sample number (step S6).

The sample container104in which the analysis is finished is moved only by a prescribed distance (arrangement pitch of the containers104) (step S7). In the case where there is an unanalyzed sample container104in the sample rack101(step S8), the program returns to step S4where the barcode of the unanalyzed sample container104is read by the blood analyzer106. After all of the samples in the sample rack101are analyzed (step S8), the program proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the sample rack101to which the analysis is finished is conveyed to the front of the smear preparing apparatus108and is stopped.

Next, as shown inFIG. 12, the barcode of the sample container104is read by the smear preparing apparatus108(step S10). The smear preparing apparatus108determines whether it is necessary to inquire the host computer107of the sample of the sample number or not. If the order information transmitted to the conveyance controller19in step S1bindicates that it is necessary to prepare a smear of blood, the smear preparing apparatus108determines that the inquiry is necessary. If the order information indicates that it is not necessary to prepare a smear of blood, the smear preparing apparatus108determines that the inquiry is not necessary. Even if the order information transmitted to the conveyance controller109indicates that preparation of a smear of blood is not necessary, in the case where an additional order which will be described later is transmitted to the conveyance controller109, it is determined that the inquiry is necessary. When it is determined in step S11that an inquiry to the host computer107is necessary, the process of step S12is performed. When it is determined that an inquiry is unnecessary, the sample rack110is conveyed to the unloader111(step S18).

In step12, the smear preparing apparatus108sends an inquiry to the host computer107. To be more specific, the smear preparing apparatus108transmits the sample number read in step S10to the host computer107. When a reply indicating that preparation of a smear of blood is necessary is received from the host computer107, the CPU40of the smear preparing apparatus108reads the smear control parameter corresponding to the smearing level or the HCT value received from the host computer107from the memory20(steps S13and S14).

As shown inFIG. 4, a table in which the relations among the smearing level, the HCT value, and the smear control parameters are pre-set is stored in the memory20. The CPU40reads the smear control parameters from the memory20on the basis of the table. Concretely, if a smearing level is transmitted from the host computer107, the smear control parameter corresponding to the smearing level is read. If a smearing level is not transmitted from the host computer107, the smear control parameter corresponding to the HCT value is read. In such a manner, with respect to a sample whose smear of blood has to be prepared with special smear control parameters, a smear of blood is prepared with smear control parameters set by the user. With respect to a sample whose smear of blood does not have to be prepared with special smear control parameters, a smear of blood is prepared with the smear control parameters according to the HCT value. Therefore, easy-to-observe smears of blood can be prepared for samples having various characteristics.

With the read smear control parameters, a smear of blood is prepared (step S15).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13that preparation of a smear of blood is not necessary, a smear of blood is not prepared but the process of step S16is performed. An example of cases where it is determined that preparation of a smear of blood is not necessary is a case where measurement values output from the blood analyzer106are in a normal range and no abnormality message is output.

In step S16, the sample container104in which the preparation of a smear of blood is finished is moved only by a predetermined distance (an arrangement pitch of the sample containers104). When there is an unfinished sample container104in the sample rack (step S17), the program returns to step S10and the barcode of the unfinished sample104is read by the smear preparing apparatus108. After all of the samples in the sample rack101are processed (step S17), the program proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the sample rack101to which the processing is finished is moved to the unloader111.

In step S19, whether processing on all of samples included in the order information has been finished or not is determined. If the processing on all of samples has not been finished, the program returns to step S3. If the processing on all of the samples has been finished, the program returns to the process of step S1a, and the medical record information and the order information is transmitted to the host computer107again.

The processes executed by the controller80of the host computer107will be described by usingFIG. 14.

In step S101a, the controller80receives the medical record information of the provider of the sample (patient) and the order information from the hospital host computer89. This process corresponds to step S1ainFIG. 11.

In step S101b, the order information received in step S101ais transmitted to the conveyance controller109. As described above, the order information is information in which the sample number (sample ID) for identifying the sample, the information of whether analysis in the blood analyzer106is necessary or not, and the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood in the smear preparing apparatus108is necessary or not (the presence or absence of an instruction for preparing a smear of blood) are associated. The process corresponds to S1binFIG. 11. Based on the order information, the conveyance controller109, which has received the order information controls the loader102, the conveyer103, and the unloader111.

In step S102, the controller80receives the sample ID and the analysis result of the sample from the blood analyzer106. In step S103, the sample ID and the analysis result are stored in the analysis result storage84. The process of step S102corresponds to step S6inFIG. 11.

In step S104, the controller80determines whether the analysis result of the sample having the sample ID received in step S102lies within a predetermined range or not and determines whether a predetermined abnormality message is output or not. In the case where the analysis result is out of the predetermined range and the case where the predetermined abnormality message is output, it is determined that preparation of a smear of blood of the sample is necessary.

Next, based on the result of step S104, the controller80determines whether preparation of a smear of blood of the sample of the sample ID received in step S102is necessary or not (step S105). If preparation of a smear of blood is necessary, the smearing level is determined (step S106). A smearing level is determined by determining the smearing level conditions in the table shown inFIG. 13to which the medical record information received in step S101aand the analysis result received in step S102correspond. If there is a smearing level condition to which the medical record information and the analysis result correspond, the smearing level corresponding to the smearing level condition is extracted.

If there is no corresponding smearing level condition, it is determined that there is no corresponding smearing level. When there is a plurality of corresponding smearing level conditions, the smearing level whose value is the smallest is determined as a corresponding smearing level. In the case where there are a plurality of corresponding smearing level conditions, in addition to the method of determining the smearing level whose value is the smallest as the corresponding smearing level, a method of preliminarily placing priorities on the smearing levels and determining the smearing level having the highest priority as a corresponding smearing level may be also employed.

When it is determined in step S104that preparation of a smear of blood of the sample having the sample ID received in step S102is necessary and the order information shows that preparation of a smear of blood is unnecessary (step S107), the controller80transmits an instruction (addition order) to prepare a smear of blood of the sample of the sample ID to the conveyance controller109(step S108). The process of the step S108is performed before the process of step S10inFIG. 12is executed.

In step S109, the controller80receives the sample ID of the sample from the smear preparing apparatus108. The process corresponds to the process in step S12inFIG. 12.

In step S110, the controller80generates an instruction to the smear preparing apparatus108regarding to the sample of the sample ID received in step S109on the basis of the results in steps S104and S106and transmits the instruction by the transmitter94. The instruction includes the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood is necessary or not, the HCT value corresponding to the sample ID from the analysis result stored in the analysis result storage84, and the extracted smearing level. When it is determined that there is no corresponding smearing level, the instruction does not include the smearing level, but includes the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood is necessary or not, and the HCT value corresponding to the sample ID. The processes of steps S109and S110correspond to the processes of step S12inFIG. 12. When the instruction includes the smearing level, the HCT value may not be included.

In step S111, the sample ID transmitted in step S110, the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood is necessary or not, the smearing level, and the HCT value are stored in the transmitted smearing level storage93. By storing the transmitted smearing level, in the case where the smear of blood is hard to observe, the smearing level can be reviewed. Consequently, the quality of the smear of blood can be further improved.

In step S112, the controller80determines whether the process on all of the samples included in the order information received in step S101ahas been finished or not. If the process on all of the samples has not been finished, the program returns to the process in step102. If the process on all of the samples has been finished, the program returns to the process of the step S101a, and medical record information and order information is received again.

In the flowchart shown inFIG. 14, the processes from step S102through step S112indicate the process on one sample. In the case that a plurality of the sample containers104are transmitted by the conveyer103, the processes from step S102through step S112are performed on each of the sample containers104. The processes on the sample containers104are executed in parallel.

Although the host computer107of the embodiment transmits the smearing level in step S110, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment but a smearing level condition may be transmitted. In this case, the smear preparing apparatus108stores a table in which the smearing level condition and the smear control parameters are associated with each other in the memory20and, when the smearing level condition is received, prepares a smear of blood with the smear control parameters corresponding to the smearing level condition.

Although the host computer107of the embodiment stores the smearing level condition and the smearing level so as to be associated with each other, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. The smearing level condition and the smear control parameters may be stored so as to be associated with each other. In this case, the host computer107may transmit the smear control parameters corresponding to the smearing level condition to the smear preparing apparatus108in step S110. The smear preparing apparatus108prepares a smear of blood in accordance with the received smear control parameters.

Although the host computer107of the embodiment uses numeric values as the smearing levels, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment but character strings such as “for pediatrics” and “for leukemia patient” may be also used as the smearing level. As a result of this, the user can understand a usage of the smearing level easily.

Although the host computer107of the embodiment receives sample attribute information such as an analysis result and medical record information from the blood analyzer106via the external information receiver82, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is also possible to receive the sample attribute information via the input unit81and extract the smearing level of the smearing level condition corresponding to the received sample attribute information. In this case as well, in a manner similar to the above, the extracted smearing level condition may be transmitted to the smear preparing apparatus108, or the smear control parameters corresponding to the smearing level condition may be transmitted to the smear preparing apparatus108.

Although the smearing level is extracted on the basis of the sample attribute information such as the analysis result and the medical record information in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. The sample ID and the smearing level may be received via the input unit81, or the smearing level may be received together with the order information from the hospital host computer. When the sample ID is received from the smear preparing apparatus108, the smearing level corresponding to the received sample ID may be transmitted to the smear preparing apparatus108. In a manner similar to the above, the sample ID and the smearing level condition or the smear control parameters may be received via the input unit81or the smearing level condition or the smear control parameters may be received together with the order information from the hospital host computer89.