Diatron, a STRATEC brand specialising in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of haematology and clinical chemistry analysers and related reagents for human and veterinary use, has expanded the capabilities of its Aquila, Aquarius 3, and Abacus 5 analysers with six advanced haematological indices.
The new RUO (research use only) indices - Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Mentzer Index, Red Cell Distribution Width Index (RDWI), and Green & King Index - provide laboratories with deeper insights directly from routine full blood counts without extra costs or workflow burden.
NLR, PLR, and MLR are widely described in the literature as markers that reflect immune and inflammatory status. In research settings, they can offer non-invasive insight into systemic inflammation, infection severity, and immune activation. They have been investigated across different research areas, including infections, cardiovascular disease, oncology, and autoimmune conditions. Published studies have reported associations between:
- Elevated NLR and outcomes such as infections, cancer prognosis, and cardiovascular risk
- PLR and pro-inflammatory or pro-thrombotic states
- MLR and chronic inflammation, such as tuberculosis and autoimmune diseases.
The Mentzer Index, RDWI, and Green & King Index have been described in the literature as tools to support the differentiation between Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and Beta-Thalassemia Trait (BTT). By combining key CBC parameters, these indices can facilitate investigations into diagnostic strategies and algorithms in haematology research. (These parameters are not available in the USA.)
The integration of these indices delivers meaningful operational advantages. Avoiding manual calculation, they are automatically calculated from existing FBC, and they integrate seamlessly into routine workflows and do not require additional samples. These indices can support retrospective and prospective studies, method comparison and validation projects, and enable exploratory research into new risk scores and algorithms.
They offer enhanced CBC insights without increasing consumable usage or adding workflow steps, while boosting laboratory and researcher awareness to enable timely, well-informed decisions. These advanced RUO indices are particularly valuable in resource-limited settings, where access to specialised testing or high-cost assays may be restricted.
The Aquila, Aquarius 3, and Abacus 5 present these indices through intuitive software interfaces, making additional research indices instantly accessible without added complexity.