Clinical laboratories need to use high quality hematology analyzers to count and characterize blood cells for disease detection and monitoring. A complete blood count (CBC) is essential to assess the general health status of a patient and for the evaluation of potential underlying diseases. Sophisticated analyzers measure cell morphology and can detect small cell populations to diagnose rare blood conditions. Advanced analyzers that can process hundreds of samples an hour are available. However, hematology analyzers may differ in terms of their capabilities, such as closed vial testing and open sampling testing. Labs should take care to choose a system that will meet their specific requirements.
Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when choose a hematology analyzer:
- Choose a good brand - Beckman Coulter, Abbott Laboratories, Siemens, Sysmex Corporation and Drucker Diagnostics offer advanced hematology systems. Buying a good brand is crucial to ensure efficiency in lab operations.
- Evaluate features - Analyzers will differ in terms of features. So making the right choice depends on your specific testing requirements. Bench top instruments usually come with features such as single button operator interface, automated QA functions, user-friendly software interface and easy programming options. Choose a model that can provide accurate, consistent results within a short time.
- Find the right supplier - Choose a reliable dealer with relevant experience in supplying medical equipment. Experienced suppliers engage in online sales for the convenience of their customers. Shopping online is a great option as customers can choose from a wide variety of products by category, brand and model. Such stores also offer a wide array of hematology reagents.
- Consider lab space - Laboratories with space constraints should opt for a space saving model. For instance, QBC Star hematology analyzers free up valuable countertop space in Physician's Office Laboratories (POL's), clinics, blood banks and other facilities. They eliminate the need for bulky liquid reagents and diluents and come with a proprietary quantitative buffy coat analysis to deliver fast and precise CBC results.
- Budget - Refurbished analyzers are an ideal option for labs with budget constraint laboratories and reliable suppliers offer the equipment with service contracts and maintenance services.
Consider long-term benefits when buying a hematology analyzer. A premium quality instrument would deliver quick and accurate results and prove more cost-effective in the long run.