Method and apparatus for determining erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit simultaneously with the centrifugation of whole blood. A centrifuge separates the whole blood into its erythrocytes and its fluid portion. A video camera measures the levels of whole blood, erythrocytes and the fluid portion of the blood-and records the time of the formation of an interface between the erythrocytes and fluid portion. A monitor displays the results of the recording. Also disclosed are the method steps performed.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of calculating erythrocyte sedimentation rate simultaneously with the centrifugation of whole blood comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a sample of whole blood;    centrifuging the whole blood;    separating out the erythrocytes;    forming an interface between the erythrocytes and the fluid portion of the blood;    measuring the elapsed time from initiating the step of centrifuging to the formation of the interface; and    calculating the erythrocyte sedimentation rate of the sample from the elapsed time.    
     
     
         2 . A method of calculating hematocrit simultaneously with the centrifugation of whole blood comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a sample of whole blood;    loading the sample of whole blood into a container;    measuring the location of the whole blood relative to a fixed point in the container;    centrifuging the blood sample;    separating out the erythrocytes;    creating an interface between the separated erythrocytes and the fluid portion of the blood;    measuring the location of the interface relative to the fixed point in the container; and    calculating the hematocrit of the sample from the difference between the two locations.    
     
     
         3 . A method of calculating erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit simultaneously with the centrifugation of whole blood comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a sample of whole blood;    loading the sample of whole blood into a container;    measuring the location of the whole blood relative to a fixed point in the container;    centrifuging the whole blood;    separating out the erythrocytes;    creating an interface between the erythrocytes and the fluid portion of the blood;    measuring the elapsed time from initiating the step of centrifuging to the formation of the interface;    measuring the location of the interface relative to the fixed point in the container;    calculating the erythrocyte sedimentation rate of the sample from the elapsed time; and    calculating the hematocrit of the sample from the difference between the two locations.    
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of measuring is optical.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 2  wherein the step of measuring is optical.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 3  wherein the step of measuring is optical.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of measuring is by video camera photography.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 2  wherein the step of measuring is by video camera photography.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 3  wherein the step of measuring is by video camera photography.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of measuring includes the steps of recording the time of the formation of the interface and analyzing the recording optically.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 2  wherein the step of measuring includes the steps of recording the time of the formation of the interface and analyzing the recording optically.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 3  wherein the step of measuring includes the steps of recording the time of the formation of the interface and analyzing the recording optically.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of calculating includes the steps of analyzing a portion of each sample by standard techniques and comparing the results for each sample.  
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 2  wherein the step of calculating includes the steps of analyzing a portion of each sample by standard techniques and comparing the results for each sample.  
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 3  wherein the step of calculating includes the steps of analyzing a portion of each sample by standard techniques and comparing the results for each sample.  
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of calculating includes the steps of analyzing a portion of each sample by standard techniques, comparing the results for each sample and plotting the compared results.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 2  wherein the step of calculating includes the steps of analyzing a portion of each sample by standard techniques, comparing the results for each sample and plotting the compared results.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for determining erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit simultaneously with the centrifugation of whole blood comprising: 
 a container for holding a sample of whole blood;    a centrifuge for separating the whole blood into its erythrocytes and its plasma;    means for measuring and recording the volume of whole blood, the erythrocytes, and the plasma; and    a monitor for displaying the results of the recordings.    
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the measuring and recording is performed by-a video camera.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the measuring is performed by an optical sensor.