title: The HemoScreen, a novel haematology analyser for the point of care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A haematology analyser, based on a new technology, is presented herein. The analyser that provides a complete blood count (CBC) and five-part differential accepts disposable cartridges containing all required reagents, making it maintenance-free and ideal for point-of-care (POC) settings. The test reproducibility and imperviousness to analytical errors are attributed to the imaging-based analysis employed. Imaging enables cell-morphology-based differentiation, which is analogous to the gold standard microscopic analysis. This article presents the HemoScreen new technology and evaluates its performance through a small-scale study conducted in its designated clinical settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty anticoagulated whole blood samples were analysed on the HemoScreen and Sysmex XE-2100. Linear regression was performed for the methods comparison. Two samples with 15 replicates were processed for imprecision. Ease of use of the device was also considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HemoScreen demonstrated acceptable imprecision and good agreement with the Sysmex XE-2100. The white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit (HCT), platelets (PLT), neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils have coefficients of correlation (r) >0.97. For mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell HGB (MCH) and RBC distribution width (RDW), r values ranged from 0.92 to 0.96. For mean cell HGB concentration (MCHC) and monocytes r=0.82 was demonstrated. User-friendliness and suitability of the device for operation in the designated POC settings was also confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HemoScreen employs innovative technologies of viscoelastic focusing and microfluidics within a disposable cartridge for an image-based blood cell analysis. By providing accurate and repeatable CBC and five-part differential results within minutes and maintaining the simplicity of operation, the HemoScreen could have far-reaching implications for use at POC. Further extended evaluation is in progress.
authors.affiliation: PixCell Medical Technologies Ltd., Yokneam Ilit, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Yosef
authors.affiliation: PixCell Medical Technologies Ltd., Yokneam Ilit, Israel.
authors.forename: Barak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marom
authors.affiliation: PixCell Medical Technologies Ltd., Yokneam Ilit, Israel.
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hirshberg
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: PixCell Medical Technologies Ltd., Yokneam Ilit, Israel.
authors.forename: Avishay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bransky
mesh_terms: D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006405:Hematology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: CELL COUNTING; DIAGNOSTICS; HAEMATOLOGY; IMAGE ANALYSIS; POC TESTING