Bayer supports veterinary medicine

The ADVIA 120 software takes full advantage of the analyser's ability to deal with mean cell volume (MCV) between 15 fL and 140 fL, while providing an accurate platelet count, full five-part differential, comprehensive quantitative red cell flagging and fully automated reticulocyte count. Staff members in the IDEXX laboratory have established normal ranges for the various species they deal with. All feline, canine, equine, bovine, ovine and rabbit samples are processed on the ADVIA 120 automatically, and the system has been set to accept small paediatric-size samples down to 0.75 mL. "Speed of throughput and the flexibility of the ADVIA 120 are very important factors for us", said John Luke, haematology/biochemistry manager at the IDEXX facility in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, where two ADVIA 120 analysers are now in routine use. "We can perform a full blood count, with or without a differential, and can also take reticulocytes on or off, depending on need. We are pleased with the red cell parameters on the instrument, and the white cell differential for dogs is excellent, even when samples are 24-48 hours old. As a commercial organisation, we have to provide good service and it is very important for us to get things right the first time, every time, which the ADVIA 120 enables us to do."