Abstract
The aim of this work is to propose and evaluate a suitable sensor to determine the leukocyte density in suspension. This sensor could be used to development of a home device that allows having relevant medical information on the leukocytes of an individual. To this end, we investigate a simple optical device to measure the average extinction coefficient of leukocytes in suspension. This is equivalent to the measurement of the so-called optical density of cell’s suspensions, extensively used in microbiology laboratories. The device utilizes a LED to illuminate a large volume of the sample and a simple lens to collect the coherently scattered light into a photodetector. The resulting transmittance signal has a high signal-to-noise ratio and follows Beer Lambert’s law, thus, allowing a straight-forward measure of leukocytes average optical properties in suspension or number-density. Compared to the standard way of measuring the optical density of cells suspensions, the proposed device is much simpler and robust. Measurements are insensitive to settling of cells during measurements. The proposed device could be the basis for designing a ‘point-of-care’ device to follow up progress of leukemia patients at home.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge funding from Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IN102218). AAB also acknowledges funding from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (708764). We are grateful to Rafael Cerón Maldonado, Adrian de la Cruz Rosas and Jazmin G. Garduño-Hernández for their support in cell separation and assistance with the Neubauer chamber.
Funding
Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IN102218). AAB also acknowledges funding from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (708,764).
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Pérez-Pacheco, A., Álvarez-Chávez, N.E., Olarte-Carrillo, I. et al. Basic optical sensor for monitoring leukocyte properties in suspension. Opt Quant Electron 53, 61 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-020-02728-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-020-02728-4