Patent ID: 8906309

Claim:
A hematology analyzer comprising: a) a flow cell through which a whole blood sample is introduced at both a first flow rate and a second flow rate that is different from the first flow rate; b) a laser having a wavelength in the range of from about 400 nm to about 450 nm for directing light to said flow cell; c) a plurality of detectors for detecting light scattering by cells on a plurality of in-flow optical measurement channels; and d) a data analysis workstation comprising a processor, wherein the processor comprises a non-transient, computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the hematology analyzer to: (i) introduce a first portion of the blood sample into the flow cell at the first flow rate and direct the laser to the flow cell to generate a plurality of first flow rate optical data using the plurality of detectors; (ii) introduce a second portion of the same blood sample into the flow cell at the second flow rate and direct the laser to the flow cell to generate a plurality of second flow rate optical data using the plurality of detectors; (iii) differentiate and count white blood cells in the blood sample using the first flow rate optical data and at least one algorithm to differentiate and count different types of white blood cells; and (iv) differentiate and count red blood cells and platelets in the blood sample using the second flow rate optical data.