Mindray BC-5000Vet — Cortex Connection Guide

1. Prerequisites

• Confirm the device is on the same local network as the Cortex daemon
• Note your Cortex daemon address (example: 192.168.1.118:2575)
• Windows users: TCP port 2575 must be open in Windows Defender Firewall
• The BC-5000Vet supports 5-part differential (neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil) and reticulocyte panels — ensure the relevant panels are activated on the device license

2. Device Settings

From the Mindray BC-5000Vet main screen:

1. Enter the Setup menu
2. Select Communication → LIS Settings
3. Enter the following values:
   • Server Address: 192.168.1.118 (your Cortex daemon IP)
   • Server Port: 2575
   • Protocol: HL7 v2.5
   • Auto Send: ON
4. In the same Communication menu, enable 5-Part Diff Auto Send so differential counts are transmitted along with CBC results
5. If the reticulocyte panel is licensed, enable Retic Auto Send to include reticulocyte parameters in the HL7 message
6. Press Save → Restart the device

3. Test Transmission

1. From the main screen, open the Sample tab
2. Select a control sample → press Run
3. After full results appear (CBC + 5-part diff) → press Send to LIS
4. Confirm all parameters, including the differential, were captured in the Cortex daemon log

4. Troubleshooting

"Connection failed" error

Open TCP port 2575 in Windows Defender Firewall:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Cortex 2575" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=2575

Verify the device IP address is on the same subnet as the Cortex daemon.

Differential results missing

• Ensure 5-Part Diff Auto Send is enabled (Step 4 above)
• Check that the differential panel is licensed on this unit

Reticulocyte results missing

• Ensure the reticulocyte panel is activated in the device license settings
• Enable Retic Auto Send in the Communication menu

"No response" error

• Verify the Cortex daemon service is running
• Check daemon logs: cortex tail

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does bidirectional mode work? A: Host Query is supported. Order matching is performed via sample ID.

Q: Can I connect multiple BC-5000Vet devices? A: Yes. Port 2575 uses a shared listener; devices are distinguished by source IP and SendingApp field.

Q: What is the difference between BC-30Vet and BC-5000Vet in Cortex? A: Both use HL7 v2.5 on port 2575. The BC-5000Vet transmits additional OBX segments for the 5-part differential and optional reticulocyte parameters. Cortex parses these segments automatically.

Q: What if the DHCP IP changes? A: No issue as long as the Cortex daemon local IP stays the same. If the daemon IP changes, repeat Step 2.