Abstract:
A sample imaging apparatus comprising: a sample image obtainer for obtaining an image of a sample smeared on a sample holder, the sample holder comprising an identification part which comprises identification information of the sample; an identification detector for detecting the identification information; an identification part image obtainer for obtaining an identification part image comprising an image of at least a portion of the identification part; an output device; and a controller for controlling the output device, such that the image of the sample and the identification part image are output when the identification detector can not detect the identification information is disclosed. A sample analyzing system, a sample analyzing apparatus, and a sample imaging method are also disclosed.

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2005-287463 filed Sep. 30, 2005, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates a sample imaging apparatus, a sample analyzing apparatus, and a sample imaging method for obtaining an image of a sample smeared on a sample holder. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automatic analyzers of blood cells are known that are capable of automatically and simultaneously making blood cells counts and examining morphological blood cell types (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-162955). This automatic analyzer is configured by an automatic blood cell classifying system that prepares a blood sample by smearing part of a blood sample on a slide glass and staining the smear, then identifies and classifies a blood cell image of the blood sample, and an automatic blood cell calculating system that counts the number of blood cells in a constant volume taken from the blood sample, and the analyzer simultaneously reports the results of the blood cell calculation and blood cell classification. 
     More specifically, in this automatic analyzer, the automatic blood cell classifying system uses an ID reader to read the ID of the blood sample to which an ID has been appended beforehand by an ID maker, and thereafter uses a camera to make an image of the blood cell that has been enlarged by an optical microscope, calculates the characteristics of the blood cells in a characteristics extraction circuit, and classifies each type of blood cell. Also in this automatic analyzer, the automatic blood cell calculating system counts the blood cell based on detection signals of hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Then, predetermined signals are sent from a microcomputer to an I/O controller regarding abnormal samples that exceed a normal range for the number of cells that has been previously set. 
     The I/O controller confirms the ID of the abnormal sample, and issues instruction to double or triple the number of blood cells used for blood cell classification of the blood sample matching the ID, or change the method of examining the cells of the blood sample. Specifically, since there is a high ratio of abnormal cells at the ends of the smear surface, heightened detection of abnormal cells can be accomplished using a method that examines this specific range in detail. 
     In this automatic blood cell analyzer, it is difficult to specify the ID of a blood specimen when the ID of a blood sample can not be read by the ID reader due to the faintness of the ID printing or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a sample imaging apparatus comprising: a sample image obtainer for obtaining an image of a sample smeared on a sample holder, the sample holder comprising an identification part which comprises identification information of the sample; an identification detector for detecting the identification information; an identification part image obtainer for obtaining an identification part image comprising an image of at least a portion of the identification part; an output device; and a controller for controlling the output device, such that the image of the sample and the identification part image are output when the identification detector can not detect the identification information. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is a sample analyzing apparatus comprising: a sample image obtainer for obtaining an image of a sample smeared on a sample holder, the sample holder comprising an identification part which comprises identification information of the sample; a sample analyzing section for analyzing the sample based on the image of the sample obtained by the sample image obtainer; an identification detector for detecting the identification information from the identification part; an identification part image obtainer for obtaining an identification part image comprising an image of at least a portion of the identification part; an output device; and a controller for controlling the output device, such that an analysis result obtained by the sample analyzing section and the identification part image obtained by the identification part image obtainer are output when the identification detector can not detect the identification information. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is a sample imaging method for obtaining an image of a sample smeared on a sample holder, comprising: attempting detection of identification information of the sample from an identification part of the sample holder; obtaining an identification part image comprising an image of at least a portion of the identification part at least when the identification information can not be detected; obtaining an image of the sample; and outputting the image of the sample and the identification part image when the identification information can not be detected. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the exterior structure of a blood image analyzing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the system structure of the blood image analyzing system; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the controller of an automatic imaging device; 
         FIG. 4  is a frontal view of the top half of a sample plate; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective vie-v of the sample plate and sample cassette; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing the processing sequence of the automatic imaging device; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the processing sequence of the blood image analyzer; and 
         FIG. 8  shows an example of a display screen shown on a display, such as blood cell image data and blood identification and classification results and the like. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
     &lt;Structure of a Blood Image Analyzing System&gt; 
       FIG. 1  shows the exterior structure of a blood image analyzing system  1  as an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  shows the structure of that system. 
     The blood image analyzing system  1  of the present embodiment is installed in a facility that performs blood examinations such as a hospital or the like, and is configured by a transporting device  2  for transporting test tubes P, a sample preparing device  3  for automatically preparing blood samples, a cassette supplying unit  4  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), and an automatic analyzer  5  for imaging the components of the blood samples and classifying blood cells and the like. Each of these devices  1  through  5  are connected to a host computer  7  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) via a network (LAN)  6 . 
     &lt;Exterior Structure of Each Device&gt; 
     Among the devices  1  through  5 , the automatic analyzer  5  processes digital images of a blood sample prepared by the sample preparing device  3  and automatically classifies the blood cells. The sample preparing device  3  prepares samples to be automatically analyzed in the analyses performed by the automatic analyzer  5 , and prepares two types of samples as visual inspection samples to be analyzed by human inspection. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sample preparing device  3  is provided with case that has a touch panel  8  disposed on right end of the front surface as an operation part, and the transporting device  2  is arranged in front of this case. The automatic analyzer  5  is disposed on the left side of the sample preparing device  3 . The automatic analyzer  5  is configured by an automatic imaging device  10  which is described later, and a blood image analyzer  11  that is a personal computer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the controllers of the sample preparing device  3  and the blood image analyzer  11  are connected to the host computer  7  via the previously mentioned network. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the transporting device  2  is configured by a flat, oblong case that has a long transporting channel  12  formed in a lateral direction on the top surface, and a sample rack  13  for holding blood-filled test tubes P is accommodated in the transporting channel  12 . The sample rack  13  is automatically transported along the transporting channel  12 . A hand member  15  is retractably used to receive the test tube P from the transporting device  2  is provided at the receiving inlet  14  provided at the front left side of the sample preparing device  3 . 
     Thus, when a sample rack  13  holding the test tubes P is placed at the right end of the transporting channel  12  of the transporting device  2 , the sample rack  13  is automatically transported to the left side and arrives at the receiving inlet  14 , and one test tube P is extracted by the hand member  15  and introduced onto the interior of the sample preparing device  3 . 
     &lt;Sample Preparing Device&gt; 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sample preparing device  3  is configured by a cassette holder  17  that holds a sample cassette  32  (refer to  FIG. 5 ), a first cassette transporting part  18  for moving a cassette within the holder  17  into the sample preparing device  3 , and sample preparing part  19  for performing a sample preparing process on a sample plate  25  (refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and inserting the plate  25  in the cassette  32  that passes through the transporting part  18 . 
     The sample preparing device  3  is further provided with a staining section  20  that performs a staining process on the sample plate  25  held in the sample cassette  32 , a second cassette transporting part  21  that moves the sample cassette  32  outside the device after the staining process, storing section  22  for holding the cassette  32  that accommodates the samples for visual inspection and analysis by human inspection, and a controller  23  for controlling the operation of each section. The cassette  32  that accommodates the sample to be used for automatic analysis by the automatic analyzer  5  is transported to a cassette receiving area of the cassette supply unit  4  by the second cassette transporting section  21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sample plate  25  is provided with a plate body  26  formed in a rectangular frame-like shape, and a sample smearing section  27  as a sample holding body within the frame of the plate body  26 . At the top end of the plate body  26  is provided an identification part  28  for recording identification information such as date, sample provider, ID number and other information (sample related information) regarding the sample. A blood sample S of the sample is smeared in the sample smearing section  27 . 
     The identification part  28  includes two types of display parts  29  and  30  displayed on the left and right at the top end of the plate body  26 . One of these (Left side in  FIG. 4 ) is the code display area  29  in which a two-dimensional barcode that includes identification information is displayed, and the other (right side in  FIG. 4 ) is the text information area  30  in which is displayed text information that includes identification information. 
     In the example in the drawing, the date on which the sample was prepared, the name of the sample provider and ID number are entered sequentially from the top in the text information area  30 . Furthermore, a one-dimensional barcode may also be used in the code display area  29 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sample cassette  32  has a flat case body  33  formed in a T-shape. An insertion slot  34  is formed in the center part at the top end of the case body  33  for the insertion of the sample plate  25 , and the insertion slot  34  is formed by notching downward as viewed from the top. Therefore, the sample plate  25  can be accommodated in the sample cassette  32  in a condition in which only the identification part  28  is exposed to the outside by inserting the sample slid  25  facing the insertion slot  34 . Although not shown in the drawing, a barcode that includes an ID number that matches the sample plate  25  may be adhered to the test tube P. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a sample preparing part  19  has a blood suctioning and dispensing, blood smearing function, and sample plate  25  inserting function. That is, the sample preparing part  19  has the function of suctioning blood from a test tube P brought to it by the hand member  15 , and dripping the blood onto the sample smearing section  27  of the sample plate  25 , and smearing the dripped blood on the sample smearing section  27 . After smearing, the sample plate  25  is inserted in the sample cassette  32  passing through the first cassette transporting part  18 , so as to be integrated with the sample cassette  32 . 
     Although not shown in the drawing, the sample preparing part  19  also has the function of reading at least the ID number among the identification information of the test tube P and sample plate  25 , and the controller  23  of the sample preparing device  3  instructs the sample preparing part  19  to perform the sample preparing operation on the sample plate  25  that has the same ID number as the test tube P. 
     &lt;Cassette Supply Unit&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cassette supply unit  4  is provided with a cassette holding part  35  that holds a sample cassette  32  that has a stained sample plate  25  and has been transported from the sample preparing device  3 , a cassette storing part  36  disposed downstream from the holding part  35 , and a cassette supplying part  37 . The sample cassette  32  that contains a sample plate  25  accommodated in the sample cassette holding part is moved from the cassette supplying part  37  to the sample plate removal part  40  of the automatic imaging device  10 . The sample cassette  32  from which the sample plate  25  has been removed in the sample plate removing part  40  is stored in the cassette storing part  36  by the cassette supplying part  37 . 
     &lt;Automatic Imaging Device&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the automatic analyzer  5  of the present embodiment is provided with an automatic imaging device  10  that has the function of enlarging and imaging a blood sample S of a specimen, and a blood image analyzer  11  that performs image processing necessary for identification and counting of cells, and both the devices  10  and  11  are connected so as to be capable of mutually communicating. 
     The automatic imaging device  10  is provided with a sample plate removing part  40  for removing the sample plate  25  from the sample cassette  32  that has been supplied from the cassette supplying unit  4 , a sample plate transporting part  39  for transporting the sample plate  25  that has been removed from the sample plate removing part  40  into the device, an imaging part  41  for enlarging and imaging a blood image smeared on the sample smearing section  27  of the sample plate  25  that has been transported by the sample plat transporting part  39 , and a sample plate holding part  45  for holding the imaged sample plate  25 . The cassette accommodating the sample plate  25  is held in the sample plate holding part  45 . 
     The automatic imaging device  10  is further provided with a first reading means  42 , which is a barcode reader for acquiring identification information such as the sample ID number and the like by reading a two-dimensional barcode recorded on the barcode display part  29  of the sample plate  25  passing through the sample plate transporting part  39 , and a second reading means  43 , which is a CCD camera or the like for imaging the text information area  30  of the sample plate  25  that is passing through the same transporting part  39 . 
     The imaging part  41  has built in a microscope capable of enlarging and observing a blood sample S smeared on the sample smearing section  27 , a CCD camera for imaging an image (blood component image or cell image) of white blood cells and other blood cells contained in the sample, and an image memory for storing the RGB color images output from the camera after having been subjected to analog-to-digital conversion. 
     The control of the imaging part  41  and other types of controls in the automatic imaging device  10 , and communication controls for data transfer to the network side over the network are controlled by the controller  44  provided in the automatic imaging device  5 . 
     The controller  44  of the automatic imaging device  10  is configured by a CPU  46 , ROM  47 , RAM  48 , and I/O interface  49  as shown in  FIG. 3 . An operating system and control program for controlling the operation of the imaging part  41 , and data required to execute the control program are stored in the ROM  47 . 
     The CPU  46  may load the control program in the RAM  48 , or execute the control program directly from the ROM  47 . Thus, the result data processed by the CPU  46  are sent to the various parts of the automatic imaging device  10  or an external device (blood image analyzer  11  or the like) outside the device  10  via the I/O interface  49 , and the data required for the processing by the CPU  46  are received from the various parts of the automatic imaging device  10  or from an external device to the device  10  through the I/O interface  49 . The CPU  46  is capable of performing the control operation of the flow chart in  FIG. 6 , which is described later, by executing the control program. 
     &lt;Blood Image Analyzer&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the blood image analyzer  11  is provided with a CPU  51 , ROM  52 , RAM  53 , display device  54  such as a CRT or liquid crystal display or the like, input devices such as a keyboard (including specialized keyboard)  55  and mouse  56 , and hard disk  57  as a large capacity storage device. Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , a printer  58  is connected to the blood image analyzer  11 . 
     The ROM  52  stores an operating system and a control program for executing the imaging process and cell identification and classification processes performed by the analyzer  11 , and data needed to execute these programs. 
     The CPU  51  may load the control program in the RAM  53 , or execute the control program directly from the ROM  52 . Thus, the result data processed by the CPU  51  are sent to an external device (automatic imaging device  10  or the like) outside the blood image analyzer  11  over a network that is not shown in the drawing, and the data required for the processing by the CPU  51  are received from the external device of the blood image analyzer  11  over the network that is not shown in the drawing. 
     The CPU  51  of the blood image analyzer  11  executes the control program to perform data processing of the blood cell images, calculate the characteristics needed recognize and classify of the blood cells, and identify and classify the blood cells based on these characteristics. The characteristics extraction process is performed by dividing the pixels of the sample image of the white blood cells into pixels related to the nucleus, pixels related to the cytoplasm, and other pixels. 
     The classification process uses parameters of characteristics of the cytoplasm to identify the type of object blood cell, and performs a blood cell count and classifies the blood cells. 
     For example, the classification process of the white blood cells (nucleated blood cells) classifies the object blood cells as six types of mature white blood cells (rod-like nucleus neutrophils, segmented nucleus neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes) and erythroblasts. The six types of mature white blood cells are normal nucleated blood cells, and three types of immature white blood cells and erythroblasts are abnormal nucleated cells. 
     Furthermore, the CPU  51  of the blood image analyzer  11  is capable of outputting, by various methods, blood images (blood cell images), cell identification and classification results (analysis results), and the image data of the text information area  30  imaged by the second reading means  43 . These data are displayed on the display  54  by a display screen, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 8 , or the data may be stored on the hard disk  57  for review, or may be transmitted to the host computer  7  over the network. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of a display screen that shows the blood cell image data, the blood identification number and blood classification result. In this display screen, there are five display windows  59  for showing blood cell images. A display box  60  is provided at the top left of the display screen and is used for displaying the cassette number and slide (sample) number, and on the adjacent right side is a display box  61  for displaying the ID number. Furthermore, at the adjacent right side of the display box  61  used for the ID number is a display box  62  for displaying image data (image) of the text information area  30 . On the far right side of the display screen is provided a display box  63  for displaying the WBC (white blood cell) classification result. Blood images of blood smeared on the sample smearing section  27  of the sample plate  25  imaged by the automatic imaging device  10  are displayed in the display windows  59 . The slide (sample) number and cassette number of the cassette accommodating the sample plate  25  are displayed in the display box  60 . The ID number of the sample plate  25  or a provisional ID number described later is displayed in the display box  61 . An image of the text information area  30  of the sample plate  25  imaged by the second reading means  43  is displayed in the display window  62 . The classification result of the WBC (white blood cell) classified by the blood image analyzer  11  is displayed in the display box  63 . 
     &lt;Automatic Imaging Device Processing Flow&gt; 
     The processing flow of the automatic imaging device  10  is described below with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when a sample cassette  32  is detected by a sensor (not shown in the drawing) provided in the sample plate removing part  40  of the automatic imaging device  10  (step S 1 ), the sample plate  25  is removed from the sample cassette  32  (step S 2 ). Thereafter, the barcode affixed to the barcode part  29  of the sample plate  25  is read by the first reading means  42 , which is a barcode reader, and a determination is made as to whether or not the reading was properly accomplished (step S 3 ). 
     When the barcode reading has been properly accomplished, the sample plate  25  is moved to the imaging part  41  (step S 4 ), then the blood sample S smeared in the sample smearing section  27  is imaged in the imaging part  41  (step S 5 ). Thereafter, the ID information that includes the ID number acquired by the first reading means  42  and the image data of the sample image obtained by the imaging part  41  are stored in the memory (step S 6 ), and all the data are transmitted to the blood image analyzer  11  (step S 7 ). 
     When the barcode reading can not be performed for any reason such as unclear printing or the like, a provisional ID number (for example, the code ERR indicating and error and a twelve digit number) are provided for the sample plate  25  (step S 8 ). Thereafter, the text information area  30  of the sample plate  25  is imaged by the second reading means  43 , which is a CCD camera or the like (step S 9 ), then the sample plate  25  is sent to the imaging part  41  by the sample plate transporting part  39  (step S 10 ), and the blood sample S is imaged in the imaging part  41  (step S 11 ). 
     Subsequently, the provisional ID number, image data of the text information area  30 , and blood image data of the sample image obtained by the imaging part  41  are stored in memory (step S 12 ), and all the data is sent to the blood image analyzer  11  (step S 13 ). 
     Although the second reading means  43  images the entirety of the text information area  30  in the present embodiment, only imaging the area of the ID number of the text information area  30  is also possible, as is imaging the entirety of the identification part  28 . Although the date, name, and ID number are recorded in the text information area  30  in the present embodiment, the name alone may also be recorded, or only the name of the hospital and date of hospitalization of the sample provider may be recorded insofar as such information identifies the blood sample used by the automatic analyzer  5 . 
     &lt;Blood Image analyzer Processing Flow&gt; 
     The processing flow of the blood image analyzer  11  is described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the primary identification information or ID number is first received in the blood image analyzer  11  from the automatic imaging device  10  (step S 21 ), the received information is stored in memory (step S 22 ) and a determination is made as to whether the ID number in the received information is a normal ID number read by the first reading means  42  or a provisional ID number (ERR00) that is provided when there is an error in the reading by the first reading means  42  (step S 23 ). 
     When a proper ID number has been detected, the image data of the blood sample S are received and stored in memory (step S 24 ), the blood cells are classified based on the image data of the blood sample S (step S 25 ), and the classification results are stored in memory (step S 26 ). Thereafter, the image data of the blood sample S and the classification results are displayed on the display  54  with the screen shown in  FIG. 8  (step S 27 ), and the data are sent to the host computer  7  (step S 32 ). 
     In this case, the proper ID number is shown in the display box  61  used for the ID number and nothing is displayed in the display box  62  used for the text information area  30  in the display screen shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     When, however, a provisional ID number (ERR00) has been detected, the image data of the blood sample S and the image data of the text information area  30  are received and stored in memory (step S 28 ), the blood cells are classified based on the image data of the blood sample S (step S 29 ), and the classification results are stored in memory (step S 30 ). Thereafter, the image data of the blood sample S, the image data of the text information area  30 , and the classification results are displayed on the display  54  with the screen shown in  FIG. 8  (step S 31 ), and the data are sent to the host computer  7  (step S 32 ). 
     In this case, the provisional ID number (ERR00) is shown in the display box  61  used for the ID number and the image data of the text information area  30  are displayed in the display box  62  used for the text information area  30  in the display screen shown in  FIG. 8 . The blood image analyzer  11  is constructed such that a user of the blood image analyzer  11  looking at the display screen shown in  FIG. 8  can confirm a proper ID number from the image data of the text information area  30  displayed in the display box  62 , and using the keyboard  55  and mouse  56  the user can input a proper ID number in the display box  61  that displays the provisional ID number. 
     Thus, according to the automatic analyzer  5  of the present embodiment, since the image data of the text information area  30  imaged by the second reading means  43  are output together with the image data of the blood sample S and the blood cell classification results to the host computer  7  and the display device  54  even when the first reading means  42  can not read the barcode, it is possible to match the provider (patient) and the sample plate  25  that was used for the blood cell classification and the image data of the blood sample S. Therefore, the image data of the examined sample plate  25  need not be wastefully re-examined, and mistakes regarding the provider of the sample plate  25  can be prevented before they occur. 
     Since a provisional ID number (ERR00) that can be discriminated from a normal ID number is provided in the automatic analyzer  5  of the present embodiment, misreading by the first reading means  42  can be understood by the presence of the provisional ID number. Then, since the text information area  30  is imaged only for a sample slide provided with this provisional ID number (that is, only for a sample plate  25  that has been misread by the first reading means  42 ), and the text information area  30  is not imaged for a normal sample plate  25  that has been successfully read by the first reading means  42 , the memory range required to store the image data of the text information area  30  can be kept to a minimum. 
     The present invention is not limited to the previously described embodiment. 
     For example, the imaged text information area  30  is not only output as image data, the text entered by a printer or manually in the text information area can be imaged, and the text can be identified by reference to previously stored patterns based on the image, so as to be used as text data output for optical character recognition (OCR). In this case, the text information area  30  can be output as image data and text information. Thus, the output text information is one type of image displayed in the display box  62  for the text information area  30 . 
     Furthermore, the first reading means  42  and the second reading means  43  may be combined as a single camera. In the case of a combined camera, a two-dimensional barcode of the code display part  42  is read normally, and the text information area  30  is imaged by moving the imaging range when the reading can not be performed. 
     Although the present embodiment is an example of the present invention applied to an automatic analyzer  5  capable of outputting both blood sample images and analysis results, the present invention is also applicable to devices capable of outputting only one or another of such data. That is, the automatic analyzer  5  may be a sample imaging apparatus that outputs imaged blood sample images to the display device  54 , printer, or other computer or the like for visual analysis by the user of the apparatus, or may be a sample analyzing apparatus that analyzes blood based on the imaged image without displaying the imaged blood sample image on the display device  54 , then subsequently outputs analysis results of blood sample images to the display device  54  and the like. 
     Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to devices that use biological fluids other than blood, such as bone marrow fluid and urine, as objects of analysis or imaging. 
     In the automatic analyzer  5  of the embodiment described above, a provisional ID number (ERR00) is provided that can be distinguished from normal ID information, the text information area  30  is imaged only for a sample plate  25  that has been provided with a provision ID number, and imaging of the text information area  30  is not performed for normal sample slides  25  that have been successfully read by the first reading means  42 ; however, the text information area  30  of a sample plate  25  may be imaged regardless of the normal ID information. 
     In the automatic analyzer  5  of the embodiment described above, a blood image taken by the automatic imaging device  10 , the ID number or provisional ID number of the sample plate  25 , the text information area  30  of the sample plate  25  imaged by the second reading means  43 , and the WBC (white blood cell) classification results of the classification by the blood image analyzer  11  are displayed on the display screen for displaying the blood cell image data, blood identification number and blood classification results; however, it is also possible that any one among (1) the ID number or provisional ID number, (2) text information area  30  (displayed when the ID number can not be read), and (3) the blood image and classification results may be displayed. 
     Furthermore, although the blood image and analysis results as well as the identification information are displayed on the display device (output means)  54  provided in the blood image analyzer  11  in the automatic analyzer  5  of the above embodiment, the image data and analysis results may be displayed on a display device (output means) attached to the host computer  7  or a client PC.