Blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood comprising an immunoassay section (10) for carrying out immunoassay and a blood cell count section (11) for counting blood cells, wherein the same whole blood specimen is used in both measuring sections (10, 11) and the immunoassay results are corrected using the hematocrit obtained by the blood cell count. In a specific embodiment, the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus comprises containers for containing reagents used for immunoassay, and the blood cell count section (11) for carrying out blood cell count arranged in one straight line or in an arc form, wherein only one sampling nozzle (36) is used to sample the specimen and reagents.

Description: The present invention relates to a blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood. A combined blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus is known from JP-A-02 075 959. There is an inflammation marker as a technique for observing any sign of inflammation occurring in the body, its degree, and its progress. For a typical inflammation marker, examples include number of white blood cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, acute phase protein, serum protein fractional value, serum sialic acid, etc., and these are measured in various combinations and the results are utilized for diagnosis of inflammation. Of these, particularly, the measurement of the number of white blood cells and C-reactive protein (CRP), acute phase protein, is effective for diagnosis of inflammation and infectious diseases, but there is no apparatus which can measure both simultaneously, and the former is measured by a blood cell counter and the latter by an immunoassay apparatus, respectively. However, when measurements are carried out individually using the blood cell counter and the immunoassay apparatus, samples used for measurements are whole blood for the former and primarily blood serum for the latter. And because when the whole blood is obtained as a sample, the blood must be drawn with an anticoagulant and without an anticoagulant. respectively, while the serum needs time to wait for blood coagulation and centrifuge, the above technique is not suited for the facilities where a professional laboratory engineer is unable to be constantly secured, such as small doctors' offices and clinics, clinics in remote areas, holiday clinics, emergency laboratory, etc. As against this, there is an immunoassay apparatus which can carry out the measurement with whole blood, but when the whole blood is used for samples, if the target immunoassay item does not exist in the blood cell and only exists in serum or plasma, errors arising from variations in hematocrit, which has comparatively large individual difference, are generated. In view of the foregoing, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood which can obtain the data on complete blood cell count and immunity items simultaneously. It is another object of this invention to provide a blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood which has a simple mechanism for sampling specimens and reagents and at the same time which is easy to handle. In order to achieve the above objects, the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to this invention (first aspect of the invention) comprises an immunoassay section for measuring immunity and a blood cell measuring section for counting the number of blood cells, wherein the same whole blood sample is used in both measuring sections and at the same time, the results of immunoassay are corrected using the hematocrit obtained by the measurement of the number of blood cells. In this first aspect of the invention, it is preferable to carry out blood cell count in the blood cell measuring section while immunity reactions are allowed to take place in the immunoassay section. According to this first aspect of the invention, since the blood cell count and immunity item measurement can be simultaneously carried out with whole blood, samples that must be handled are whole blood only and there is no need for serum separation, and measurement can be undertaken in a short time after blood is drawn, and at the same time, a person which is not a professional laboratory engineer can measure them easily. Consequently, this is particularly useful for emergency and early diagnosis of inflammation and infectious diseases, and at the same time, a required inspection can be carried out even in small doctors' offices and clinics, clinics at remote areas, holiday clinics, emergency laboratories, etc. And the probe unit section, processor /controller, display and output units, etc. can be shared in blood cell count and immunoassay, and the cost can be reduced for those shared by the two as compared to the conventional apparatus in which such units must be equipped individually. The blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to this invention (second aspect of the invention) has an immunoassay section for immunoassay, a container for containing reagents used for immunoassay, and a blood cell count section for counting the blood cells arranged in a straight line or an arc, so that with only one sampling nozzle, specimens and reagents can be sampled. In this second aspect of the invention, it is preferable to use the cell of the blood cell count section for a waste liquid chamber for cleaning the sampling nozzle. According to this second aspect of the invention, because the mechanism for sampling reagents, etc. becomes simplified, and less component parts are required, there is less chance for generating troubles during measurement and at the same time cost can be reduced. When the cell of the blood cell count section is also used as a waste liquid chamber for cleaning the sampling nozzle, the dedicated waste liquid chamber is no longer required, and the construction becomes simplified as much and cost reduction is promoted. Further details, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to this invention with the side panel removed: FIG. 2 is a drawing schematically showing the overall configuration of the blood cell count/ immunoassay apparatus using whole blood; FIG. 3 is a view as seen from above of the principal portion of the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing one example of a measuring procedure together with FIG. 5 and FIG. 6; FIG. 5 is a flow chart following the portion shown in FIG. 4; and FIG. 6 is a flow chart following the portion shown in FIG. 5. Referring now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, preferred embodiments of this invention will be described in detail hereinafter. First of all, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a blood cell count/ immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to this invention with the side panel removed, FIG. 2 is a drawing schematically showing the overall configuration of the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood, and FIG. 3 is a view as seen from above of the principal portion of the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood. In these drawings, numeral 1 is an apparatus case, and on the side of the front portion 2, a specimen setting section 5 for setting a specimen container 4 for containing whole blood 3 as a specimen is formed in the condition recessed inwards. Numeral 6 is a measuring key provided in this specimen setting section 5 and 7 is a door which swings in the direction of both arrow marks 9 with the hinge 8 at the center and opens and closes the specimen setting section 5. And below the side surface portion 9 of the apparatus case 1, an immunoassay section 10 for carrying out immunoassay and a blood cell count section 11 for carrying out blood cell count are arranged in one straight line as seen from the front side in order of the side closer to the front portion 2, and at the same time, a solenoid valve section 12 comprising a plurality of solenoid valves 12a is installed. Above the side portion 9, a probe unit section 13 as a sampling mechanism moving linearly along the immunoassay section 10 and the blood cell count section 11 for blood cell count arranged on one straight line is installed between the specimen setting section 5 and the blood cell count section 11. In FIG. 2, numeral 14 is a fixed-rate injector, 15 a dilution liquid container, 16 a hemolysis reagent container, and 17 a pump, and these components 15 through 17 are connected to the solenoid section 12. Numeral 18 is a waste liquid container connected to the pump 17. Now, the configuration of the immunoassay section 10, blood cell count section 11, and the probe unit section 13 is described a little in detail. First of all, the immunoassay section 10 is configured to measure CRP in this embodiment. That is, in FIG. 2, numeral 19 is a cell for measuring CRP (hereinafter called the "CRP cell"), which is configured to be equipped with a light irradiating section 19a and a light detection section 19b as well as to properly agitate the liquid contained inside. Numeral 20, 21, 22 are containers containing reagents used for CRP measurement, in which, a hemolysis reagent (hereinafter called the "R1 reagent"), a buffer solution (hereinafter called the "R2 reagent"), and an anti-human CRP sensitized latex immunoreagent (hereinafter called the "R3 reagent") are contained, respectively. The CRP cell 19 and reagent containers 20 through 22 are arranged in one straight line with respect to the setting position of the specimen container 4 of the specimen setting section 5, and these components 19 through 22 are configured to be opened and closed in a lump by a cover 24 which swings vertically by a solenoid 23. Now, numeral 25 is a cooler box equipped with an electronic cooler 26 comprising, for example, a Peltier element, and in the illustrated example, reagents R2, R3 are contained. Next, the blood cell count section 11 is configured to measure WBC (white blood cell count), RBC (red blood cell count), PLT (number of platelets), MCV (mean corpuscular volume) and Hct (hematocrit) by the electric resistance method and Hgb (hemoglobin concentration) by the absorptiometric method in the cyanmethemoglobin method, respectively. That is, in FIG. 2, numeral 27 is a WBC/ Hgb blood cell count cell (hereinafter called simply the "WBC cell") and is equipped with measuring electrodes 27a, 27b for measuring WBC and a light irradiation section 27c and light receiving section 27d for measuring Hgb. Numeral 28 is an RBC/PLT blood cell count measuring cell (hereinafter called simply an "RBC cell"), and is equipped with measuring electrodes 28a, 28b for measuring RBC and PLT. These cells 27, 28 are arranged to form one straight line together with the CRP cell 19 and reagent containers 20-22 in the CRP measuring section 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The WBC cell 27 serves also as a waste liquid chamber for cleaning the sampling nozzle 36 later discussed. In addition, the probe unit section 13 is, for example, configured as follows. That is, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, numeral 29 is a nozzle unit, and with suitable connecting members 32, this nozzle unit 29 is fixed to a timing belt 31 installed horizontally along the base member 30 vertically erected along the immunoassay section 10 and the blood cell count section 11 for counting blood cells placed in one straight line, and with this, the nozzle unit is configured to reciprocate in the horizontal direction. More specifically, the nozzle unit 29 is configured to reciprocate nearly right above the immunoassay section 10, containers containing reagents used for immunoassay, devices 18-20, and the blood cell count section 11 placed in one straight line. Numeral 33 is a motor for driving a timing belt 31, 34 is a pair of guide members for guiding the guided member 35 installed to the nozzle unit 29, and these are mounted to the base member 30 via a suitable member. Numeral 36 is a sampling nozzle, and is mounted to a nozzle holder 38 which moves vertically by the timing belt 37 in the nozzle unit 29. The top end side (bottom end side) of this sampling nozzle 35 is configured to be inserted through the sampling nozzle washer 39 and allow the outer circumference of the top end portion to be washed. Numeral 40 is a motor for driving the timing belt 37. Numeral 41 is a sensor to detect whether the sampling nozzle 36 is located at the home position or not. And in FIG. 2, numeral 42 is a microcomputer (MCU) as a controller and processor for comprehensively controlling all the sections of the apparatus as well as performing various arithmetic using outputs from the CRP measuring section 10 and the blood cell count section 11, 43 is a driver for transmitting driving signals to the solenoid valve section 12, motors 33, 40 of the probe unit section 13, etc. based on the commands from MCU 42, 44 is a signal processor for processing and transmitting output signals from the CRP measuring section 10 and the blood cell count section 11 to MCU 42, 45 is an apparatus for displaying the results, etc., for example, a color display unit, processed and obtained in MCU 42, and 46 is a printer as an output unit. In FIG. 2, dotted lines show flows of specimen 3 or various reagents, and slightly thick alternate long and short dash lines show flows of control signals, and thin alternate long and short dash lines show flows of signals obtained by the measurement. Referring now to FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 in which one example of measuring procedure is shown, the operation of the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood of the above configuration is described. First of all, when the measuring key 6 (Step S1) is turned on, the sampling nozzle 36 located at the home position moves to the R2 reagent position (Step S2) and sucks the R2 reagent (Step S3). After sucking this reagent, the sampling nozzle 36 moves upwards and the outer surface is washed with the dilution liquid as a washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. Thereafter, the sampling nozzle 36 returns to the R2 reagent position. Then, the sampling nozzle 36 moves to the R1 reagent position (Step S4) and sucks the R1 reagent (Step S5). After sucking this reagent, the sampling nozzle 36 moves upwards and the outer surface is washed with the dilution liquid as a washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. Thereafter, the sampling nozzle 36 returns to the R1 reagent position. And the sampling nozzle 36 moves to the specimen setting position (Step S6) and sucks the specimen (whole blood) 3 in the specimen container 4 for CRP measurement (Step S7). After sucking this specimen, the sampling nozzle 36 moves upwards and the outer surface is washed with the dilution liquid as a washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. Thereafter, the sampling nozzle 36 returns to the specimen 3 position. And the sampling nozzle 36 moves to the CRP cell 19 (Step S8) and discharges the specimen 3, R1 reagent, and R2 reagent into the CRP cell 19 (Step S9). The sampling nozzle 36 which finished discharging moves to the WBC cell 27 position (Step S10), and discharges the specimen 3, R1 reagent, and R2 reagent into the WBC cell 27 together with the dilution liquid supplied by the pump 17. And the sampling nozzle 36 has the outer surface washed with the dilution liquid as a washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. The waste liquid in this washing is received by the WBC cell 27 and is discharged to the waste liquid container 18 by the pump 17. Again, supplying the dilution liquid to the WBC cell 27 by the sampling nozzle washer 39 and discharging it to the waste liquid container 18 by the pump 17, the WBC cell 27 is washed. By the way, the waste liquid may be received with the RBC cell 28. The sampling nozzle 36 finished with the washing moves to the specimen setting position (Step S11) and sucks the specimen 3 in the specimen container 4 for CBC measurement (Step S12). After sucking this specimen, the sampling nozzle 36 moves upwards and has the outer surface washed with the dilution liquid as the washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. The sampling nozzle 36 finished with the washing discharges the specimen 3 into the WBC cell 27, while the dilution liquid in the dilution liquid container 15 is injected in a specified amount into the WBC cell 27 via the solenoid section 12. and primary dilution of the CBC specimen takes place (Step S13). The sampling nozzle 36 located at the WBC cell 27 position sucks a specified amount of primary-diluted CBC specimen, moves to the RBC cell 28 (Step S14), and discharges the primary-diluted CBC specimen sucked into this cell 28 (Step S15), while the dilution liquid in the dilution liquid container 13 is injected in a specified amount into the RBC cell 26 via the solenoid section 10, and secondary dilution of CBC specimen takes place (Step S16). After completion of the primary and secondary dilution, the hemolysis chemical in the hemolysis chemical container 16 is injected in a specified amount into the WBC cell 27 via the solenoid valve section 12, and WBC and Hgb measurements are carried out, while in the RBC cell 28, RBC and PLT measurements are carried out (Step S17), and the data at the time is taken into MCU 42 via the signal processor 44. When the above measurements are completed, the WBC cell 27 and the RBC cell 28 are washed with the dilution liquid (Step S18). As described above, in Step S10 - S28, CBC measurement is carried out in the blood cell count section 11, but during this period (about 60 seconds), in the CRP cell 19, hemolysis reactions take place between the specimen 3, R1 reagent. and R2 reagent and at the same time the interfering substance is removed. And when the CBC measurement is completed, the sampling nozzle 36 located at the RBC cell 28 position moves to the WBC cell 27 position, and the inner surface of the WBC cell 27 is washed with the dilution liquid supplied by the pump 17, while the outer surface is washed with the dilution liquid as the washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. The waste liquid at this time is received into the WBC cell 27 and discharged to the waste liquid container 18 by the pump 17. And again, by supplying the dilution liquid to the WBC cell 27 with the sampling nozzle washer 39 and discharging it to the waste liquid container 18 by the pump 17, the WBC cell 27 is washed. Thereafter, the sampling nozzle 36 moves to the R3 reagent position (Step S19) and sucks the R3 reagent (Step S20). After sucking the reagent, the sampling nozzle 36 moves to the CRP cell 19 position (Step S21), and discharges the R3 reagent into the CRP cell 19 (Step S22), and the R3 reagent is mixed in the reaction liquid of the specimen 3, R1 reagent, and R2 reagent. After discharging the R3 reagent, the sampling nozzle 36 moves to the WBC cell 27 position and washes the WBC cell 27 inner surface with the dilution liquid supplied by the pump 17, and the outer surface is washed with the dilution liquid as the washing liquid supplied to the sampling nozzle washer 39. The waste water in this event is received by the WBC cell 27 and discharged into the waste liquid container 18 by the pump 17. Again, by supplying the dilution liquid to the WBC cell 27 with the sampling nozzle washer 39 and discharging it to the waste liquid container 18 by the pump 17, the WBC cell 27 is washed. And the liquid is thoroughly agitated in the CRP cell 19 (Step S23), immunoreaction is generated, and CRP measurement is carried out (Step S24), and the data in such event is taken into MCU 42 via the signal processor 44. Upon completion of the measurement, CRP cell 19 is washed with the dilution liquid (Step S25), and all the measurements are finished (Step S26). In the MCU 42, based on the data obtained by the CBC measurement carried out in the blood cell count section 11, measurements such as RBC (red blood cell count) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), etc. are obtained. In MCU 42, based on the data obtained by the CRP measurement carried out at the CRP measuring section 10, changes of absorbance per specified time is obtained and the CRP concentration in total blood is obtained from the calibration curve determined in advance from the serum (or plasma) of a known concentration. In such event, because with respect to the CRP measurement, the whole blood with anticoagulant added is used for the specimen 3 as in the case of CBC measurement, the plasma component volume error generated by the use of the whole blood must be corrected. Therefore, the hematocrit (Hct) is found from RBC (red blood cell count) and red blood cell volume (RCV), and using this hematocrit, the CRP concentration in whole blood obtained by the CRP measurement is corrected by the following correction formula, and the CRP concentration in the plasma is determined. That is, let A denote the CRP concentration in whole blood and B the hematocrit, the CRP concentration C in the plasma can be found by the following expression: C = A × 100/(100-B) While each of the measurements obtained by the MCU 42 are stored in memory, for example, on storage built in MCU 42, they are displayed on the display unit 45 by items or outputted by a printer 46. And because as described above, in the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood, the blood cell is counted at the CBC measuring section 11 while the hemolysis and interfering substance removing reactions are allowed to take place at the CRP measuring section 10, the total time required for CRP measurement and CBC measurement can be shortened and at the same time, the correction carried out on the results obtained by the CRP measurement by the results obtained by the CBC measurement can be smoothly undertaken. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the specimen container 4, immunoassay section 10, containers containing reagents used for immunoassay 20-22, and blood cell count section 11 are arranged on one straight line, while the sampling nozzle 36 is located nearly right above and reciprocated linearly, but in place of this, arranging the specimen container 4, immunoassay section 10, containers containing reagents used for immunoassay 20-22, and blood cell count section 11 in an arc form, and locating the sampling nozzle 36 nearly right above and reciprocated in an arc form can result in the same operation and effects. According to the blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to the first aspect and the second aspect of the invention, since the blood cell count and immune items can be measured simultaneously using the whole blood with one apparatus, the whole blood can be used for the specimen used and the serum separation is no longer needed and measurement can be carried out shortly after the blood is drawn. In addition, the specimen and reagents required for blood cell count and immune item measurements can be supplied to the blood cell count section and immunoassay section with only one sampling nozzle. That is, because the mechanism for sampling the specimen and reagents can be remarkably simplified, troubles scarcely occur during measurement, and the measurements can be carried out simply and quickly even without any professional laboratory engineer. Particularly, in the first aspect of the invention, the probe unit section, processor and controller, display and output units, etc. can be used in common by the blood cell count measurement and immunoassay, and the cost can be reduced for those shared by the two as compared to the conventional apparatus in which such units must be equipped individually, and at the same time, the apparatus can be configured in a compact construction as a whole. In the second aspect of the invention, when the cell of the blood cell count section is also used for the waste liquid chamber, the dedicated waste liquid chamber is not required and the construction can be simplified as much and the cost reduction can be promoted.

Claims: A blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood comprising an immunoassay section (10) for carrying out immunoassay and a blood cell count section (11) for counting blood cells, wherein the same whole blood specimen is used in both measuring sections (10, 11) and the apparatus is adapted to correct the immunoassay results using the hematocrit obtained by the blood cell count. A blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to claim 1, wherein the blood cell count is carried out at the blood cell count section (11) while immunoreactions are allowed to take place at the immunoassay section (10). A blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood comprising an immunoassay section (10) for carrying out immunoassay, containers for containing reagents used for immunoassay, and a blood cell count section (11) for carrying out blood cell count arranged in one straight line or in an arc form, wherein only one sampling nozzle (36) is used to sample the specimen and reagents. A blood cell count/immunoassay apparatus using whole blood according to claim 3 wherein the cell of the blood cell count section (11) is also used for the waste liquid chamber for washing the sampling nozzle (36).

Inventors: OKU NARIHIRO, YAMAO YASUO, OKU, NARIHIRO, YAMAO, YASUO, Oku, Narihiro c/o Horiba, Ltd., Yamao, Yasuo c/o Horiba, Ltd.
Applicants: HORIBA LTD, HORIBA, LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G01N33
IPC codes: G01N15, G01N35