Siemens Advia 120 vs. Advia 2120i: Same Throughput, Different Automation Path
Hematology labs weighing the Siemens Advia 120 against the Advia 2120i often assume the newer model must be faster. It is not. Both are benchtop, 5-part differential analyzers rated at 120 tests per hour. The real question is whether your lab needs the extra capabilities the 2120i adds around body fluids and automated slide making.
What the Two Systems Share
Diamond lists the same core performance for both: up to 120 tests per hour, a 45-second sample cycle time, a 175 μL minimum sample size, STAT sampling, automated sample handling, and an open reagent system. Siemens rates the platform at 120 samples per hour for CBC and CBC with differential, falling to 74 samples per hour when reticulocytes are included. For routine CBC, differential, and reticulocyte work, the two systems deliver the same throughput.
1. Siemens Advia 120: Proven Benchtop Hematology
The Advia 120 runs whole blood, plasma, and serum samples through a 5-part differential at 120 tests per hour, and Diamond lists a menu of 26 tested assays. It remains a dependable choice for labs focused on routine CBC, differential, and reticulocyte testing that do not need body fluid analysis or automated slide preparation.
2. Siemens Advia 2120i: CSF Testing and an Autoslide Path
The Advia 2120i keeps the same throughput but expands what the lab can do around it. Diamond lists CSF among its sample types, and Siemens lists CSF and CHr testing among its capabilities. The system integrates with the ADVIA Autoslide slide maker and stainer, sold separately, which Siemens rates at up to 96 slides per hour and which can cut the manual work of smear preparation. Siemens also describes a path from a stand-alone instrument to multi-system automation as a lab's volume grows.
3. How to Choose
Choose the Advia 120 if your testing is routine CBC, differential, and reticulocyte work and you want a proven benchtop analyzer. Choose the Advia 2120i if you need cerebrospinal fluid cell counts, want to automate slide making, or expect to scale into a more automated hematology workflow. For a closer look at the 2120 family, see our comparison of the Advia 2120 vs. 2120i and our guide to the Advia 120.
Equip Your Hematology Department with the Right Advia System
At Diamond Diagnostics, we help laboratories choose hematology capability that matches the tests they run, not the ones on a brochure.
Whether you need the Siemens Advia 120 or the Siemens Advia 2120i, every system we supply undergoes our complete Down-To-Frame® refurbishment protocol, including full disassembly, component-level restoration, and rigorous multi-level quality control validation.