Hemacytometer in maroon case lined with purple plush and purple acetate; (a) one counting chamber and two pipettes with attached rubber tubing; the counting chamber consists of a rectangular piece of glass with grooves cut into the middle (two vertical grooves and one smaller horizontal groove); (b…
Hemacytometer in maroon case lined with purple plush and purple acetate; (a) one counting chamber and two pipettes with attached rubber tubing; the counting chamber consists of a rectangular piece of glass with grooves cut into the middle (two vertical grooves and one smaller horizontal groove); (b) graduated pipette with a bulb near the top containing a white bead, with attached rubber tubing with a white end; (c) graduated pipette with a bulb near the top containing a red bead, with attached rubber tubing with a red end; (d) wooden case, covered with leather-like vinyl; the case has a lid attached with two brass hinges at the back and two clasps at the front; the inside bottom is lined with purple velvet and the inside top with purple acetate.
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - hemacytometer counting chamber - Length 3.2 cm. x Width 7.5 cm.
b - rubber tubing & graduated pipette, white bead - Length 25.0 cm. x Width 0.5 cm. x Depth 0.5 cm.
c - rubber tubing & graduated pipette, red bead - Length 23.5 cm. x Width 0.5 cm. x Depth 0.5 cm.
d - hemacytometer case - Length 8.5 cm. x Width 18.3 cm. x Depth 2.3 cm.
(a) Front reads, "Depth // 0,100 mm // 1/400 sq. mm // 13824 // Improved // Double Neubauer // Chamber // I & B LTD"; (b) front reads, "0.5 // 1.0 // 1.1"; (c) front reads, "0.5 // 1 // 101"; (d) front reads, "Haemacytometer"; back reads, "GERMANY // E. D. ROOKE // MEDS '37"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-F6-8
Condition Remarks
(a) Slide for haemocytometer is broken; the slide would be placed over the counting chamber area to protect the blood from the microscope lens and permit a larger field of focus; (b) rubber tubing is broken and needs repair; inside of pipette is discoloured and has dried blood; (c) rubber tubing is broken and cracked and needs repair; pipette interior discoloured with dried blood; (d) case has some dark discoloured spots; edges are worn
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Reference Comments
M. Hardwick
Research Facts
(a) Haemacytometers are used in Haematology to count white and red blood cells in a certain volume of blood; the pipette with the red bead is used to make a 1:100 dilution of blood with saline; the pipette with the white bead is used to make a 1:10 dilution of blood with saline for counting white blood cells; the 1:100 dilution is used to count red blood cells; once the blood has been diluted, a drop or two is placed on the haemacytometer and covered with a special glass slide; this protects the lens of the microscope from accidental contact with the blood; the haemacytometer contains two counting areas which are grids etched onto the glass; these are visible to the naked eye, but the cells are counted using a microscope;
the number of red blood cells in a volume of blood is determined by counting the cells in one chamber, and then with a mathematical formula, calculating the total number of red cells per volume; a below-normal value may indicate the presence of anemia; white blood cell numbers are counted in both chambers because of their lower numbers relative to red blood cells; a mathematical formula is used to calculate the number of white cells per volume;
elevated white counts may indicate the presence of infection, an allergic reaction, leukemia, or other diseases; a decreased white blood count is often indicative of bone marrow failure which occurs in later stage leukemia;
the use of the haemacytometer has now largely been replaced by automated methods, although it can still be found in use in areas where automation is not available;
haemacytometers can also be used to count the numbers of sperm in seminal fluid for fertility testing; (b) this smaller tube was used for a 1 in 10 dilution; (c) this tube was used for a 1 in 100 dilution.