Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
by Dr Marlene Connelly, Hamilton Vetcare, VIC
The HM5 is a haematology analyser. It provides results rapidly so we can inform clients immediately about the health of their pet. It’s more efficient than sending a sample to a lab and waiting days for a result.
What’s good about it
We use the HM5 for general check-ups and pre-anaesthetic bloods to make sure the animal’s red blood cell count is all good. If a dog or cat comes in sick, it’s great to be able to run the haematology profile straight away. Information about the red and white blood cell counts allows us to act quickly if the dog is anaemic or if it has a severe infection. We can also do follow-up tests to make sure the animal is improving clinically and on the blood test as well.
It works with a small blood sample and is easy to use. The sample is sucked up by a container and then placed in the unit. The machine then produces results rapidly. All the patient information is sent to the HM5 so nothing needs to be manually entered. The patient file is selected and the results are automatically added to it.
The unit can be calibrated to work with a number of species but we just use it for cats and dogs. We’ve had the HM5 for around five years now and had no breakdowns or issues in that time—and we use it multiple times each day.
What’s not so good
It would be handy if it included a reticulocyte count so we could diagnose regenerative or non-regenerative anaemia. Not a major omission but it would be useful.
