Patent ID: 7482161

Claim:
A method for verifying the accuracy of a hematology instrument that analyzes a sample of mammalian blood containing red blood cells by a process that includes lysing said red blood cells in said instrument and that determines relative amounts of different types of blood cells in said sample, said method comprising: analyzing in said instrument according to said process a blood control having a known composition and comprising a red blood cell component, a white blood cell component, and a platelet component, of known relative amounts, suspended in a simulated plasma, said red blood cell component consisting of non-nucleated Type B1mammalian red blood cells that have been pre-conditioned by incubation with butane-1,4-dial at a concentration of about 0.05% to about 2.5% (weight/volume) for a period of time of about 16 hours to about 48 hours at a temperature of about 2° C. to about 8° C., to crosslink said red blood cells while leaving said red blood cells lysable in said instrument, and comparing the results of said analysis with said known composition.