An
instrument, a bit like a flow cytometer, counts and categorizes the cells
on the basis of size, complexity and "lobularity."
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First, the RBCs are lysed, leaving
only the WBCs.
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The WBCs are diluted with a
buffer so they can be shot, single-file, through a flow cell.
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The white blood cells are sized
as they pass through a tiny window in the flow cell.
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The machine registers an impedance
change across the flow cell window proportional to the size of each WBC.
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The complexity of each WBC is
assessed by laser light absorbance and reflection.
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Nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio.
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Degree of granularity of the
cyotplasm.
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Absorbance characteristics of
the granules.
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Want see a movie
of how it's done?
What do the areas of the
scatter
plot correspond to?
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