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The Technicon Ektacytometer: automated exploration of erythrocyte function
Biorheology. Supplement : the Official Journal of the International Society of Biorheology
|January 1, 1984
Summary
The Technicon Ektacytometer offers a rapid, automated method to assess red blood cell (RBC) deformability and osmotic fragility using minimal blood samples. This visco-diffractometric technique provides reproducible results for various erythrocyte functional property examinations.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Biophysics
- Medical Laboratory Science
Background:
- Erythrocyte (RBC) deformability is crucial for microcirculation.
- Assessing RBC functional properties traditionally requires complex methods.
- A need exists for automated, sensitive assays of RBC behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Technicon Ektacytometer, an automated instrument for measuring erythrocyte properties.
- To evaluate the instrument's performance in assessing RBC deformability and osmotic fragility.
- To explore the utility of the Ektacytometer for various functional assays.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes a visco-diffractometric technique applying uniform shear stress to RBC suspensions.
- Measures cell deformation via the Elongation Index (EI) derived from diffraction patterns.
- Automated "Osmoscan" feature varies suspending medium osmolality and measures conductivity.
Main Results:
- The "Osmoscan" is highly reproducible, requiring only 150 microliters of blood and 5 minutes per sample.
- The method demonstrates high sensitivity to changes in RBC properties.
- Osmotic fragility measurements correlate well with traditional tests.
Conclusions:
- The Technicon Ektacytometer is a reliable and efficient tool for evaluating erythrocyte functional properties.
- The instrument facilitates sensitive assessment of RBC deformability and osmotic fragility.
- Potential for broader applications in hematological research and diagnostics is indicated.