Emergency departments (EDs) in many countries are under sustained pressure. Patient volumes are increasing, staff resources are limited, and bed turnover can be slow, so long waits and crowded waiting areas are common. Among the contributing factors, delays in basic laboratory testing—especially complete blood count (CBC)—play an important role, because clinical decisions often depend on these results.

If a CBC machine can deliver a 7-differential CBC and other key tests at the bedside within a few minutes, the timing of triage and treatment decisions can be improved. This is the type of support Ozelle aims to provide for emergency medicine teams.

Why CBC Turnaround Time Matters in the ED

In the ED, CBC is one of the most frequently ordered tests. Patients with fever, suspected infection, chest pain, fatigue, bleeding, or nonspecific symptoms often need a CBC to help evaluate infection, anemia, bone marrow activity, or blood cell abnormalities, and then decide whether further tests or admission are required.

In a conventional workflow, nurses collect blood samples and send them to a central laboratory. Samples wait in a queue, are processed in batches, then validated, and results are finally reported back to the physician. This process often takes 45–120 minutes. During this period, patients may remain in corridors or observation units, and clinicians may need to make conservative decisions with limited information, leading to prolonged stays and repeated assessments. Over time, this contributes to extended length of stay, slower bed turnover, and higher “left without being seen” (LWBS) rates.

Bringing the CBC Machine to the Bedside

Point-of-care testing (POCT) offers a practical way to shorten diagnostic delays. Instead of relying only on a central lab, POCT devices can be placed in triage areas, resuscitation bays, observation units, or even ambulances, so that tests are performed near the patient and results are available more quickly.

Clinical studies have shown that using POC testing for CBC and basic chemistry in the ED can reduce the time needed to reach a medical decision and decrease overall ED length of stay. When CBC and routine chemistry results are available within minutes, clinicians can more promptly decide whether to initiate treatment, order further tests, admit, or discharge.

In this setting, a CBC machine that is suitable for emergency environments becomes a practical component of the ED workflow rather than only a small-scale substitute for a central analyzer.

Ozelle’s AI Mini Lab as a CBC Machine for ED Use

Ozelle’s EHBT-50 multi-functional mini lab is designed to work as a CBC machine with added capabilities. It performs 7-diff CBC and also supports immunoassay and biochemistry tests, which is useful in time-sensitive and space-limited departments such as the ED.

Key features for ED applications include:

• 7-diff CBC in a Few Minutes from a Small Sample The device uses capillary or venous blood, requiring only about 30–40 μL, and can provide a 7-diff CBC report in approximately 6 minutes. This is suitable for older adults, children, and patients for whom repeated venipuncture is difficult.
• AI-Based Cell Morphology Information Using cell morphology imaging, the CBC machine can provide parameters such as NST, NSG, NSH, RET, and PAg. These data offer additional information on infection status, hematopoietic activity, and abnormal red or platelet morphology, which can assist clinical judgment.
• Single-Use, Fully Enclosed Cartridges and Low Maintenance Each test uses an enclosed cartridge that combines sampling, dilution, staining, and counting. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination and lowers day-to-day maintenance, so ED nurses can operate the device with simple, standardized steps.

With these characteristics, the CBC machine provides timely information to clinicians and fits into daily ED routines.

Extending Beyond CBC on a Single Platform

ED decision-making often requires multiple parameters rather than CBC alone. Ozelle’s CBC machine can run additional immunoassay and biochemistry tests on the same platform, which is practical for common ED presentations, critically ill patients, and those under observation.

• Markers for Inflammation and Infection In addition to CBC, the system can measure markers such as CRP, SAA, PCT, and IL‑6. These can help clinicians assess the likelihood of bacterial versus viral infection and estimate inflammatory burden, supporting more appropriate use of antibiotics and imaging.
• Cardiac and Organ Function Tests Optional assays include cardiac markers such as troponin and NT-proBNP and renal and liver tests such as creatinine, urea, ALT, AST, and bilirubin, along with glucose and lipids. This supports rapid assessment of chest pain, dyspnea, suspected heart failure, or possible organ dysfunction.
• One Blood Draw, Multiple Results For doctors, this means that one sample can yield CBC plus inflammatory markers and essential biochemistry, without relying on several different devices or waiting for central lab reports. Several decision points in the clinical pathway can be addressed in a single time frame.

Typical ED Scenarios with a CBC Machine

Several common ED situations illustrate how such a CBC machine can support clinical work:

• Suspected Sepsis A patient presents with fever, tachycardia and borderline hypotension. Traditionally, CBC and basic labs are sent to the central lab, and clinicians may wait 1–2 hours before deciding whether to start a sepsis pathway. With the Ozelle CBC machine located in triage or an observation area, CBC plus CRP/SAA/PCT and key chemistries can be available within minutes, supporting earlier identification of sepsis and more timely initiation of fluids and antimicrobials.
• Acute Chest Pain For chest pain patients, faster access to information can help clarify the situation. Quick results for CBC, troponin, NT-proBNP and basic chemistry from the CBC machine can support differentiation between cardiac and non-cardiac causes and help decide whether to activate a chest pain protocol without unnecessary delay.
• Pediatric Fever For children, long waiting times and multiple venipunctures are particularly stressful. With a small capillary blood sample, the CBC machine can provide CBC and inflammatory markers within minutes, helping clinicians estimate the risk of serious bacterial infection and potentially shorten ED stay and avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.

In all of these examples, faster test availability helps clinicians make earlier and more informed decisions.

Operational Perspective on Using a CBC Machine in the ED

ED crowding has financial as well as clinical implications. Prolonged stays lead to more overtime, slower bed turnover, and higher LWBS rates, and each LWBS visit may represent several hundred dollars in lost revenue for a hospital. For high-volume urban EDs, this can add up to a substantial annual loss.

A CBC machine that shortens lab turnaround time and helps reduce delays and LWBS rates can therefore be viewed not only as a diagnostic tool but also as an element of operational improvement. Ozelle’s CBC machine uses single-use cartridges, room temperature-stable consumables and a low-maintenance design to help control operating costs, and its IoT connectivity enables centralized monitoring of test volumes, consumables and quality control.

In this way, the device supports both clinical decision-making and day-to-day ED management.