Sysmex 2023 Winter Newsletter - Flipbook - Page 6
Do You Remember:
Stories from the Lab
In the last issue, we debuted this column with an image of an RBC pipette/hemacytometer set. We asked if you
remembered using something like it in the lab and what instruments you first used when you started in the lab. Here are
some of your stories:
During my internship, in the early 80’s , I trained to use Thoma
pipettes for manual White and Red blood cell counts for use early
in my career, as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. I recall using the
mouthpiece and how difficult that it was to develop the skill to
make the proper dilutions for counting. Lots of practice involved.
We had cell counters that had to be calibrated
every morning. We did all our diffs by hand.
Low WBC and PLT counts were checked on
hemacytometers. The “morning” run was
finished by noon.
- Les
– Barbara
Nearly daily mixing of reagents for SMA 12/60 continuous flow
chemistry analyzer. Apart from the instruments, pre-computer
there were huge preprinted logs to record patient information and
patient results. We have to be very careful transcribing test results
onto the forms that went to the charts.
Instrumentation connected to Cerner LIS via
terminal servers.
– Jeffrey
– Paula
Yes, we had to de-cap the tubes and let the paddle
mix the blood (even if we had to mix it with a
spoon)
Started with colormetric hemoglobin measurement, counting
chambers with diluting fluid, microscope, three part Coulter
machine and filter paper test for visual estimation of
hemoglobin in wards!!!
– Srinivas
6 | NEWS
– Joe