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Abstract

The present invention provides a novel lytic reagent composition highly selective in its interactions with the cell membranes of blood cells and also provides a method of using the reagent composition in a semi-automated or an automated system to effect a significantly improved white blood cell differential determination. The lytic reagent composition is characterized by an ability to selectively shrink the white blood cells into the increasing size order of lymphocytes, a midregion consisting mainly of monocytes, other mononuclear cells, some basophils and eosinophils, and neutrophils and can readily be optimized to effect a significantly improved three component separation on the histogram of commercially available semi-automated and automated blood analyzers when compared to the reagents conventionally employed on such instruments. Also provided is a novel blood diluent that exhibits an improved ability to stabilize blood cells without 'fixing' the permeability of their membranes, which is critical in the semi-automated analysis of blood cells. This mechanism for membrane stability is particularly effective for maintaining the morphology and size distribution of blood cells for multiple species of animals.

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First Claim