Abaxis UK provides environmentally-friendly, cyanide-free VetScan HM5 reagents in one convenient package for easy reagent changing. Diluent: Isotonic saline solution is used to dilute whole blood specimens and to rinse the analyzer’s fluidic system between analyses. Rinse: Used with diluent to prevent salt build-up on aperture. Cleaner: Used in the fluidic system cleaning process. Lyse: Used to create hemolysate for three-part WBC differential and for total WBC and HGB. Lyse2: Used to dilute whole blood and differentially haemolyse white blood cells to separate eosinophiols from other WBC’s. CALIBRATOR/CONTROL Abaxis UK provides three levels of controls for checking the instrument calibration through instrument quality control. When necessary, the normal control can be used to calibrate the instrument. HAEMATOLOGY ENZYMATIC CLEANER When used with the software cleaning cycle, the VetScan Enzymatic Cleaner digests protein and lipid residues leaving the tubing and critical measurement parts clean for accurate and reproducible CBC measurements.
What technology does the VetScan HM5 utilise? The VetScan HM5 uses a combination of chemical differentiation and impedance technology to provide the 5-part WBC differential. With impedance technology, electrically neutral blood cells generate an electrical pulse as they each pass through an electronically charged aperture. Cell counts are determined by the number of pulses measured in a given volume of blood over a set period of time. The size of the pulse generated is directly proportional to the volume of each cell. This size discrimination, along with susceptibility to various lysing agents, distinguishes the cell types and provides basis for the 5-part differential. The size of the VetScan HM5 aperture was specifically designed to accommodate veterinary blood cells, thereby providing optimal differentiation.
What type of sample is used? Haematology analyses require EDTA-treated blood (from lavender or purple top tubes containing potassium EDTA only). It is important to ensure that your sample is well mixed and contains optimal proportions of blood and EDTA. The following guidelines should be followed: Fill each tube at least half-full with blood to eliminate dilution errors. Thoroughly mix each sample by gently inverting the filled potassium EDTA sample tube by hand 10 to 15 times to avoid clot formation. If possible, run the sample immediately after mixing. If testing is delayed and the sample is placed on a rocker, be sure to mix it thoroughly again before analysis by gently inverting the tube 10 to 15 times. This ensures the homogeneity of the sample. Do not shake samples. Doing so can damage the blood cells, and can form micro-bubbles that will cause inaccurate results. Never use a rocker for samples smaller than 1.0 ml. Rockers do not mix samples. Feline samples frequently demonstrate platelet aggregations (clumps). Vortex mixing for up to 10 seconds can disaggregate these clumps with no adverse effect on the sample. Some practitioners find that collecting blood from the medial saphenous vein using a vacutainer minimises platelet clumping.
What species are supported? Fifteen species are supported on the VetScan HM5. In 5-part differential mode: Dog, Cat, Horse, Cow, Alpaca and Llama. In the 3-part differential mode, currently validated species are: mouse, rabbit, rat, ferret, pig, goat, monkey, sheep and guinea pig.
What maintenance is recommended for the VetScan HM5? As with any cell counter, the analyser must be kept clean to avoid build up of debris and particle interference in the system. Performing the simple and easy preventative maintenance will keep the HM5 in optimal operating condition, thus ensuring peak performance, and high quality results.
What is the shelf-life of the VetScan HM5 haematology reagents? Shelf life is 24 months from date of manufacture. Open reagent packs should be used within 26 weeks (~5 months).
What parameters are reported with the VetScan HM5? 22 parameters complete blood with cellular histograms are provided:
WBC WBC: Total White Blood Cell Count Graphical WBC and EOS histograms provide added information about sample integrity and contents. LYM: lymphocytes and lymphocyte percentage MON: monocytes and monocyte percentage NEU: neutrophil and neutrophil percentage EOS: eosinophil and eosinophil percentage BAS: basophil and basophile percentage
RBC HGB: Haemoglobin HCT: Hematocrit RBC: Red Blood Cell count and indices: MCV: Mean Cell Volume MCH: Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin MCHC: Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration RDW: Red Cell Distribution Width Graphical RBC Histogram is included.
PLT PLT: Platelet, or thromobocyte, count and parameters: MPV: Mean Platelet Volume PCT: Platelet hematocrit PDW: Platelet Distribution Width Graphical Platelet Histogram is included.
How can I avoid platelet clumping? Platelet clumping is a fairly common occurrence, especially in feline samples. This clumping may prevent accurate counting by both automated systems and manual slide counting. There are, however, a number of methods you may employ to minimise platelet clumping.
Preventative Measures
- Draw sample from medial saphenous vein while the cat is held in a lateral recumbent position; stroke gently to reduce stress.
- Draw sample directly into EDTA tube (e.g. Monovette system) and mix thoroughly, immediately (or transfer immediately to EDTA tube from syringe and mix thoroughly).
Even with these preventative measures, feline platelet clumping is not always avoidable but can be minimised What are the power requirements needed to operate the system? The VetScan HM5 System requires 100-240 volts AC, 50-60 Hz or 12 volts DC. Abaxis UK recommends that the VetScan HM5 be plugged into a surge protector designed for use with a computer. Abaxis UK recommends the use of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) if the VetScan HM5 will be used in an area prone to electrical surges or power outages. What is a blank and why is it needed? A blank measurement checks the cleanliness of the VetScan HM5 fluidics systems, and is used to establish a baseline for sample measurements. The results of a blank are used to determine if the background will affect the test results, and whether the analyser needs cleaning or maintenance. A blank must be run every 12 hours. Each blank measurement remains valid for 12 hours of continuous operation, after which the analyser displays “BLANK needed,” and a new blank must be run. Acceptable blank measurement readings, which match the criteria below, must be accepted to reset the instrument. WBC <0.5 x 10e3 cells/μl HB <10 g/l RBC <0.05 x10e6 cells/μl PLT <25 x10e3 cells/μl EOS <0.1 x10e3 cells/μl I just changed my reagent pack and my VetScan HM5 still says the reagents are empty or out of date. The reagent status needs to be reset. Press Utilities, Maintenance, reagent status, change. This will reset the volume to 100% for the reagents and 0% for waste and change the install date to today’s date. My VetScan HM5 has the message, “One or more of your reagent sensors has been disabled.” What should I do? This message is informing you that one of the sensors used to detect the reagents flowing into the VetScan HM5 has been turned off. In order to achieve the most accurate test results, it is advised to turn on all the sensors and calibrate. To do this, select Utilities, Settings, Fluid Sensors. Ensure all the sensors are turned on by filling in the black box to the left of the sensor name; then calibrate the sensors. Can my data be saved to an external disk? The VetScan HM5 can store up to 5,000 complete test results in its internal database, results are stored chronologically by date and time. You can retrieve these results anytime. Data can be downloaded to a USB flash drive or a compatible data-management system. How many tests will I get from my reagent pack? The throughput of the reagent pack varies depending on the number of tests you run a day. The more tests run in a day, the more you’ll get from your reagent pack. On average practices will be able to run 70 – 90 tests per pack. However, running extra cleaning, priming, and blanking will increase the consumption of the reagent pack, therefore decreasing the reagent pack yield. Properly maintaining the VetScan HM5 will help increase the yield of the reagent pack. What kind of external printer can I use with my VetScan HM5? For a current list of compatible printers, contact Technical Support or refer to your operators’ manual for a complete list (see page 3-3). Can I use my VetScan HM5 to communicate with my lab management software? Please check with your practice management software supplier for updates/details. What is the purpose of the different reagents in a reagent pack? Diluent: Isotonic saline solution is used to dilute whole blood specimens and to rinse the analyser’s fluidic system between analyses. Rinse: Used to rinse the analyser after a sample run. Cleaner: Used in the fluidic system cleaning process. Lyse: Used to create hemolysate for three-part WBC differential and for total WBC and HGB. Lyse2: Used to dilute whole blood and differentially lyse white blood cells, leaving eosinophils for the EOS count.
