Patient sample classification based upon low angle light scattering

Abstract

An apparatus for classifying a liquid patient sample includes at least one sample container having a quantity of a sample that is aggressively acted upon so as to create a flow field. A measurement mechanism includes at least one low angle light emitter aligned with a measurement window of the at least one sample container and a detector oppositely disposed relative to the measurement window. Measurement of the scattered light detects particle characteristics of a moving flow field from the sample to determine, for example, the amount of agglutination of the sample so as to perform blood typing or other classifications without spatial separation.

1 . A method of classifying an agglutination reaction, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mixture of a blood sample and an agglutination reagent into the confines of a sample container;    moving the mixture within the sample container such that an agglutination reaction occurs and that the agglutinated cells are moved as a flow field into a measurement window of the sample container;    aiming a light source into the sample container and probing the flow field with the light beam; and    detecting the number and size of particles in the light to determine the amount of agglutination of said sample.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the moving step is performed by centrifugation.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said moving step is performed by vertical movement of the sample within a reaction vessel serving as said sample container.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said reaction vessel includes at least one transition zone having a smaller inside diameter than an adjacent portion through which the sample is moved.  
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said light beam is scattered by particles contained in said moving flow field, said scattered light being detected in said detecting step.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said sample container contains at least one fluid having a specific viscosity and specific gravity to effectively exclude the sample prior to centrifugation thereof.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said aiming and detecting steps are performed using a particle measurement system.  
   
   
       8 . A method of classifying a patient sample, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a patient sample in a sample container;    moving a quantity of sample fluid contained within said sample container so as to create a moving flow field;    aiming a light source into the sample container and probing the flow field with the light beam; and    detecting particle characteristics of said flow field in order to effectively classify said sample.    
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said patient sample is a blood sample.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , including the step of providing a mixture of a blood sample and at least one agglutination reagent into the confines of said sample container prior to said mixing step wherein said moving step includes moving the mixture of said blood sample and said at least one agglutination reagent in order to create an agglutination reaction.  
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said moving step is performed using centrifugation.  
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said moving step is performed using agitation of said sample container.  
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said sample container includes at least one chamber having a smaller inside diameter than an adjacent chamber of said container through which the mixture is moved.  
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , including the step of providing at least one fluid having a specific viscosity and specific gravity to effectively exclude the sample prior to centrifugation thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said particle characteristics include the size distribution of agglutinated particles in said flow field.  
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said method includes the step of blood typing based on the particle characteristics of said sample.  
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said detecting step includes the steps of detecting antigens from said sample.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for classifying a patient sample, said apparatus comprising: 
 at least one sample container;    means for moving a quantity of sample fluid contained within said at least one sample container so as to create a moving flow field; and    a measurement mechanism including a light emitter aligned with a measurement window of said at least one sample container and a light detector oppositely disposed relative to said measurement window for detecting scattered light from an emitted light beam, wherein said detector detects particle characteristics of said flow field in order to effectively classify said sample.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said moving means includes a centrifuge.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said moving means includes means for agitating said at least one sample container.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said light detector is aligned relative to the axis of said light beam of said light source by an angle that is less than about 10 degrees.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said sample container includes at least one chamber having an inside diameter which is smaller than an adjacent chamber to promote mixing.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said moving means and said measurement system are not integrally provided on said apparatus, wherein said measurement system can be used to detect scattered light after said at least one sample container has been removed from said moving means.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said moving means and said measurement system are integrally provided on said apparatus such that measurements can be timely made following said mixing step.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said classification includes detection of the amount of agglutination of a patient sample.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said classification includes detection of the amount of at least one antigen in a patient sample.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said classification further includes blood typing.