ACCOUNTING FOR ERRORS IN OPTICAL MEASUREMENTS
Apparatus and methods are described including placing at least a portion of a blood sample within a sample chamber ( 52 ), and acquiring microscopic images of the portion of the blood sample. Candidates of a given entity within the blood sample are identified, within the microscopic image. At least some of the candidates as being the given entity are validated, by performing further analysis of the candidates. A count of the candidates of the given entity is compared to a count of the validated candidates of the given entity, and at least the portion of the sample is invalidated from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of candidates and the count of validated candidates. Other applications are also described.
1 . A method comprising:
placing at least a portion of a blood sample within a sample chamber;
acquiring microscopic images of the portion of the blood sample;
identifying, within the microscopic image, candidates of a given entity within the blood sample;
validating at least some of the candidates as being the given entity, by performing further analysis of the candidates;
comparing a count of the candidates of the given entity to a count of the validated candidates of the given entity; and
invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of candidates and the count of validated candidates.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
identifying, within the microscopic image, candidates of a given entity within the blood sample comprises identifying, within the microscopic image, platelet candidates within the blood sample;
validating at least some of the candidates as being the given entity, by performing further analysis of the candidates comprises validating at least some of the platelet candidates as being platelets, by performing further analysis of the candidates; and
invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, comprises invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of platelet candidates and the count of validated platelet candidates.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
identifying, within the microscopic image, candidates of a given entity within the blood sample comprises identifying, within the microscopic image, white blood cell candidates within the blood sample;
validating at least some of the candidates as being the given entity, by performing further analysis of the candidates comprises validating at least some of the white blood cell candidates as being white blood cells, by performing further analysis of the candidates; and
invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, comprises invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of white blood cell candidates and the count of validated white blood cell candidates.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample comprises invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample based a ratio of the count of validated candidates to the count of candidates exceeding a maximum threshold.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample comprises invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample based a ratio of the count of validated candidates to the count of candidates being less than minimum threshold.
6 . A method comprising:
placing at least a portion of a blood sample within a sample chamber;
acquiring microscopic images of the portion of the blood sample;
identifying, within the microscopic image, white blood cell candidates within the blood sample;
validating at least some of the white blood cell candidates as being given types of white blood cells, by performing further analysis of the white blood cell candidates;
comparing a count of the white blood cell candidates to a count of the white blood cell candidates validated as being the given types of white blood cells; and
invalidating at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of the white blood cell candidates and the count of the white blood cell candidates validated as being given types of white blood cells.
7 - 36 . (canceled)
37 . Apparatus for use with a portion of a blood sample within a sample chamber, the apparatus comprising:
a microscope configured to acquire microscopic images of the portion of the blood sample; and
at least one computer processor configured to:
identify, within the microscopic image, candidates of a given entity within the blood sample,
validate at least some of the candidates as being the given entity, by performing further analysis of the candidates,
compare a count of the candidates of the given entity to a count of the validated candidates of the given entity, and
invalidate at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of candidates and the count of validated candidates.
38 . The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the computer processor is configured to:
identify, within the microscopic image, platelet candidates within the blood sample,
validate at least some of the platelet candidates as being platelets, by performing further analysis of the candidates, and
invalidate at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of platelet candidates and the count of validated platelet candidates.
39 . The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the computer processor is configured to:
identify, within the microscopic image, white blood cell candidates within the blood sample,
validate at least some of the white blood cell candidates as being white blood cells, by performing further analysis of the candidates, and
invalidate at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of white blood cell candidates and the count of validated white blood cell candidates.
40 . The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the computer processor is configured to invalidate at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample based a ratio of the count of validated candidates to the count of candidates exceeding a maximum threshold.
41 . The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the computer processor is configured to invalidate at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample based a ratio of the count of validated candidates to the count of candidates being less than minimum threshold.
42 . Apparatus for use with a portion of a blood sample within a sample chamber, the apparatus comprising:
a microscope configured to acquire microscopic images of the portion of the blood sample; and
at least one computer processor configured to:
identify, within the microscopic image, white blood cell candidates within the blood sample,
validate at least some of the white blood cell candidates as being given types of white blood cells, by performing further analysis of the white blood cell candidates,
compare a count of the white blood cell candidates to a count of the white blood cell candidates validated as being the given types of white blood cells, and
invalidate at least the portion of the sample from being used for performing at least some measurements upon the sample, at least partially based upon a relationship between the count of the white blood cell candidates and the count of the white blood cell candidates validated as being given types of white blood cells.