Point-of-Care Platelet Counter

When a point-of-care platelet count makes the difference

• Clinics and practices without a laboratory: a platelet count today means drawing a tube, courier transport and waiting. With a point-of-care platelet counter the answer is available during the consultation.
• Follow-up of patients with a low platelet count: monitoring under a physician’s responsibility, without a laboratory visit for every check. The PC100 covers 20-600 plt/nL in whole blood.
• Remote, mobile and resource-limited settings: the PC100 is a compact device that runs on any desk and needs no laboratory infrastructure, cold chain for calibrators or maintenance contract.
• PRP preparation: measuring the platelet concentration of platelet rich plasma before injection; see the PRP platelet counter page.
• Research and field studies: many counts on small volumes with a documented result for each sample.

What makes the PC100 a true point-of-care device

Requirement at the point of care	PC100
Small sample	20 µl venous whole blood or 10 µl PRP
Fast	Result typically in 4 minutes, always within 8
No calibration	Factory-set optical imaging method; no calibrators or controls to keep in stock
No cleaning or maintenance	Everything in contact with blood is single-use: slide and reagent cup
Simple operation	Touch screen guides the operator; short introduction is sufficient
Portable	Fits on any desk; no fixed installation
Documented result	Concentration, CV and images per count; print or export the report
Certified	CE-marked class A IVD (IVDR 2017/746), ISO 13485 manufacturer

How accurate is a point-of-care platelet counter?

Accuracy is the usual objection to point-of-care testing, and it is a fair one. The PC100 was therefore evaluated against two laboratory reference analyzers, the Sysmex XP-300 and the Sysmex XN-9000, following the CLSI EP9 method comparison protocol, in a peer-reviewed study in Thrombosis Journal. In whole blood the median difference was below 3% with correlation coefficients of 0.98 or higher, and regression analysis showed neither a constant nor a proportional bias. The authors concluded that the PC100 can be used interchangeably with the reference methods. Details: accuracy and precision and validation and CE marking.

Point-of-care platelet counter vs hematology analyzer

A hematology analyzer delivers a complete blood count and remains the right instrument for a laboratory. A point-of-care platelet counter answers one question, fast and on site, at a fraction of the capital, service and staffing cost. If the platelet count is the parameter you need, and you need it now, the point-of-care route is usually the better fit. The full comparison is on PC100 vs hematology analyzers.

Workflow in four steps

1. Take 20 µl of venous blood (EDTA) or 10 µl of PRP.
2. Add the sample to the reagent cup and wait about 5 minutes.
3. Fill the disposable slide and load it into the PC100.
4. Read the platelet concentration and CV; print or export the report.

Illustrated on how to make a platelet count in 4 steps.

Intended use

The PC100 is intended for the quantitative determination of the platelet concentration in human venous whole blood and platelet rich plasma, for professional use in a medical clinic, doctor’s office or laboratory, by or under the responsibility of a trained medical professional. It is not intended for home use. Results should be interpreted in the clinical context by a physician.

Frequently asked questions