The "holy grail" of laboratory analysis has to be dynamic performance in the smallest package possible. High volume, low cost, rapid turnaround hematology analysis used to mean
large footprint until ABX Diagnostics launched the PENTRA® series of analyzers: the
Pentra 60 C+, Pentra 120, and Pentra 120 Retic -- the smallest of hematology's biggest innovations.

The Pentra 60 C+: Innovative elegance, compact design

Small yet sophisticated, the fully automated, bench-top Pentra 60 C+ processes 60 samples per hour. Two patented methodologies -- Double Hydrodynamic Sequential System (DHSS™) and Multi-Distribution Sampling System (MDSS™) -- power a 26-parameter analysis to provide a complete 5-part differential from a 53 micro-liter sample volume. Quality control and reagent systems manage only five on-board reagents (including diluent), maximizing cost control while minimizing maintenance.

"We have two Pentra 60 C+ analyzers and we are very happy with them," said Beth Grove, a laboratory manager at Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern New Jersey. "We run 100 to 200 samples per day and have our results usually in less than 15 minutes," Grove said from Morristown. "This is faster than any other doctor's office I've worked in."

The user-friendly Pentra 60 C+ is "very easy to learn and the smallest machine we looked at," Grove explained. "We wanted to adapt to a new system after we replaced our Baker 9120's.
ABX has been very nice to work with and helped make the move from the old systems easy."

The Pentra 120: Double the volume -- not double the price

Nearly identical to its smaller cousin, the Pentra 120 handles 26 parameters in 120 samples per hour, with automatic and immediate rerun of abnormal samples. Eighty-two quantitative and qualitative flags, quality control software, memory capacity of 90,000 results with graphics and positive barcode sample identification help make the Pentra 120 "a very visual system," Pro Health Care Associates laboratory technician Eileen Henschel explained from Lake Success, New York. "The Pentra 120 we use is more sensitive and gives a much better picture than the Coulter we used to have."

Tracking lab results for the 100-physician team at Pro Health Associates -- a sports medicine practice with an oncology department -- would be difficult without the Pentra 120's many organizational tools: a barcode that stores sample tube, rack, and reagent lot numbers;
36 selectable quality control files; reagent, control and maintenance logs; and an 850-MB hard disk to store it all.

Learning the Pentra 120 was also a cinch according to Henschel -- thanks to the conscientious team at ABX Diagnostics. "ABX was a pleasure to work with," she said. "Their training was very helpful and we got to know the ABX people we work with. Knowing that they can help you is a real plus."

The Pentra 120 Retic: 38 parameters plus -- Reticulocytes

Fluoro-flow cytometry technology, a 20mW Argon-Ion laser (488 nm) and Breen fluorescence (530 nm) help set the most advanced Pentra yet -- the Pentra 120 Retic -- far from the competition.

"When we were making our decision to replace our Sysmex NE 8000 analyzer, we compared three systems side by side -- the Sysmex SE 9000, the Abbott Cell-Dyn 3500, and the ABX Pentra 120 Retic," explained Redlands Community Hospital clinical laboratory scientist Dennis Auden. With its walk-away rack loading and continuous feed capability, "the Pentra 120 Retic walked away with our business," Auden said from Redlands, California.

In addition to every other innovative Pentra feature, the Pentra 120 Retic provides a fully automated Reticulocyte profile using a patented rapid fluorescent RNA reagent that requires no preparation: Thiazole Orange dye. The Pentra 120 Retic delivers proportional, absolute, and corrected Reticulocyte counts; proportional immature reticulocytes; mean Reticulocyte volume; and mean fluorescence index. Additionally, the Pentra 120 Retic analyzes Reticulocyte RNA content, providing quantification for early detection and follow-up of erythropoietic regeneration.

"The ease of doing Reticulocytes with the Pentra 120 Retic is pretty amazing," Auden said. "It reads the bar code, does all 38 tests, cleans itself, and requires very little daily or weekly maintenance. It's a lot more user friendly than our previous system, which seemed to require a lot more service calls."

For more information concerning ABX Diagnostics' Pentra line of hematology analyzers, please call 1-888-903-5001 or contact an ABX Diagnostics representative at , booth #______; or visit the product web site at http://www.abx.fr/.