Automated in-clinic hematology instruments for small animal practitioners: what is available, what can they really do, and how do i make a choice?

The decision to purchase an in-office hematology instrument is typically based on the desire to have immediate access to complete blood count (CBC) data for disease diagnosis and follow-up and perhaps add to the financial bottom line of your practice. The decision regarding which in-office hematology instrument to purchase requires comparison of available instruments, how they function and knowledge of their strengths and limitations, what analytes they report, their ease of use, and their initial and continued costs. Other considerations include instrument space requirements, ability to interact with your existing data management system, the methods used by analyzers, and data accuracy.