How to Read a Haematology Analyser Spec Sheet

Every brochure promises speed and precision. Line by line, what the numbers on a haematology analyser specification sheet mean, which ones matter for a clinic, and the questions that turn two brochures into a fair comparison.

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Also called CBC machine spec sheet, Haematology analyser specifications, FBC analyser datasheet

Published: 17 October 2026

Last updated: 16 October 2026

Parameters and the differential

Reportable or research-only

Count the parameters you can put on a patient report. Some sheets include research-use-only (RUO) parameters and histograms in the headline number.

3-part or 5-part

A 3-part analyser sizes white cells by impedance into lymphocytes, mid-sized cells and granulocytes. A 5-part analyser separates neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils, usually by flow cytometry.

3-part vs 5-part

Extra channels

Reticulocytes, nucleated red cells, immature granulocytes or CRP appear on some models. Check whether each needs its own reagent and whether it is reportable.

Reticulocyte counts

Haemoglobin reagent

Check whether the haemoglobin method is cyanide-free. Cyanide-containing reagents make waste handling harder.

Throughput and sample modes

Spec line	What it means	What to ask
Throughput (samples an hour)	The maximum rate, usually in the fastest mode	The rate for CBC with differential, in pre-diluted mode and with the autoloader, if fitted
Whole-blood sample volume	Blood aspirated per test — often about 10–20 µL on benchtop analysers	The minimum volume that must be in the tube for a reliable aspiration
Pre-diluted or capillary mode	A small exact volume diluted before the run	The volume needed, who does the dilution, and whether the mode is verified
Open tube, closed tube or autoloader	Manual aspiration from an open tube; piercing the cap; a rack sampler	Closed-tube sampling and an autoloader matter in busy laboratories
Start-up and shutdown	Time before the first result, and the cleaning cycle at the end of the day	Reagent used by each start-up and shutdown

Precision, linearity and carryover

These lines tell you how good the numbers are, and each means little without the conditions printed beside it.

Example wording from current 3-part benchtop spec sheets; figures differ by model.
Spec	Typical wording	How to read it
Precision (repeatability)	WBC CV ≤2.5% (3.5–15.0 × 10⁹/L); PLT CV ≤4% (150–500 × 10⁹/L)	Lower is better. Check the level it applies to — precision at low platelet and white-cell counts matters most in dengue
Linearity	PLT 0–1,000 × 10⁹/L or higher	The range reported without dilution; above it, dilute and rerun
Carryover	WBC, RBC, HGB ≤0.5%; PLT ≤1%	How much of the previous sample contaminates the next — matters after a very high count
Comparison	Correlation coefficient against a reference analyser	Ask for the data and the comparator; a high correlation can still hide a bias

Reagents and running cost

Number of reagents: 3-part analysers often use a diluent, a lyse and a cleaner; 5-part analysers use more, sometimes including stains or dyes.
Stability after opening: at low volume, a reagent can expire on board before it is used up.
Reagent used per test and per start-up and shutdown — the fixed daily amount drives cost at low volume.
Closed or open reagents: whether only the maker’s reagents may be used.
Storage: controls and some reagents need a refrigerator; check the space and the temperature log.
Liquid waste per test, and how it is collected and disposed of.

Data, connectivity and QC software

Storage

How many results the analyser stores with their histograms and scattergrams, and how they are backed up or exported.

LIS and barcode

Two-way connection to a laboratory or clinic system, usually by ASTM or HL7, and a barcode reader for sample identification.

LIS connectivity

QC tools

Built-in Levey-Jennings charts, a moving-average check on patient results (X-B), user log-ins and an audit trail.

Daily QC

Site needs and the regulatory line

Footprint and weight, plus space beside it for reagent boxes and a waste container.
Operating temperature and humidity range — usually an air-conditioned room.
Power supply and consumption; a UPS stops a power cut from aborting a run mid-sample.
MDA registration numbers for the analyser and its reagents; CE or FDA marks are foreign approvals and do not replace Malaysian registration.
Who installs, trains and services it — the quotation should say so in writing.

Hematology Analyser supply near you

Written quotes for clinics across Malaysia, handled from Batu Caves, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

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Frequently asked questions

What does CV mean on a haematology analyser spec sheet?

The coefficient of variation: the standard deviation of repeated measurements of one sample as a percentage of their mean. A CV of 2% means repeat results scatter by about 2% around the average.

Is higher throughput always better?

Not for a clinic. The headline figure is usually for the fastest mode. A clinic running a few dozen samples a day gains more from low reagent use, a small sample volume and good service than from a faster analyser.

What is carryover on an analyser spec sheet?

The share of a result that carries into the next sample. A carryover of 0.5% means a very high white count could add a small amount to the next patient’s result.

Which spec matters most for a GP clinic?

Usually the cost per reportable test at your volume, reagent stability after opening, sample volume and local service support, rather than the top throughput figure.

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