Use Of Auto Analysers In Blood Testing

Past few years have seen a considerable increase in clinical demand for laboratory investigations in clinical biochemistry, informs Dr Avinash Phadke

During the past few years, clinical biochemistry has witnessed a considerable increase in clinical demand for laboratory investigations. When the volume of workload increased, there arose a need for automation and simplification of work. Common tests like blood sugar and urea earlier used to take hours to process and produce results. Now, with automation there are instruments with high level of sophistication like automatic dispensing to digital displaying of results, and then transferring the results to the computer directly.

There are analysers where the specimen is directly pipetted by the probe of the machine, mixed with fixed quantity of reagent and the results are then released. Thus, automation does not only save labour, pre-analytical errors like wrong sampling, but also allows reliable quality control, reduce subjective errors and produce faster results. There are various auto analysers in the market produced by various companies. The advantages of these are:

• Large number of samples can be tested in a short time period.
• Variety of tests can be performed at a time like blood sugar, lipid profile, kidney functions etc on the same sample.
• Methods on automated analyser are accurate, precise, sensitive and specific.
• Although the analysers are expensive, in the long run they prove to be cost-effective because the amount of the sample and the reagent required are less than the manual methods.
• Auto analysers allow the laboratories to process larger amount of workload without a comparable increase in the staff and with faster turnaround time.
• The most significant leap is due to advent of computerisation. With this technology, not only the mechanics of the machines but also data management has become easy.
• Generally, these analysers have a speed of more than 200 tests per hour or even more.

Types Of Analysers

1) Hitachi Analyser From Roche Diagnostics

It is a compact clinical chemistry analyser for laboratories with small workloads. The Roche/Hitachi 902 has an on-board capacity of 26 tests (including 3 ISEs - Na+, K+, Cl-), with an output of up to 200 tests per hour and up to 300 tests with optional ISE unit. It can also be used for analysis of serum, plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and hemolysate.

Features

With auto-calibration, automatic pre-dilution and rerun, the laboratory workload can be processed with minimal user intervention.

Benefits

Broad Menu For Test Consolidation: The Roche/Hitachi test menu includes assays for routine clinical chemistry, protein profiling, therapeutic drug monitoring and drugs of abuse screening (Roche/Hitachi 912 only). With up to 26 (Roche/Hitachi 902) or 35 (Roche/Hitachi 912) on-board assays, the systems can consolidate routine testing or special testing in a variety of laboratory environments.

Proven Reliability And Quality: Roche/Hitachi systems have set the standard in the diagnostic industry. Proven and dependable Roche/Hitachi systems ensure high-quality results, 24 hours a day in laboratories worldwide.

Efficient Operation And Workflow: Simplified operation combined with maximum flexibility and security are achieved by such features as user-friendly touch-screen and bar-coded sample identification.

2) Cobas Integra From Roche Diagnostics

The Cobas Integra 400 system offers maximum versatility in a minimum amount of space. This compact analyser combines the convenience and simplicity of 'load and leave' reagent cassettes with an extensive test menu and reliable, easy-to-use automation.

Features

• Unique reagent cassette requires no manual reagent reconstitution and minimal calibration.
• It offers extended on-board stability.
• Extensive test menu automates even esoteric tests such as lithium and serum proteins.
• Thirty six on-board test capacity with fast, simple method changeover while system is in operation.
• Automatic reagent inventory with remaining test data stored in memory even after a cassette has been removed from the system.

Benefits

• Increases efficiency and cost-effectiveness by reducing operator time and reagent waste.
• Reduces costs associated with labour-intensive manual procedures, send-outs and multiple analysers.
• Allows less frequently requested assays to be easily consolidated onto one workstation.
• Minimises reagent waste due to method changeover.

3) Daytona From Randox Diagnostics

The RX Daytona is a fully-automated clinical chemistry analyser. It leads the field in bench top analysers offering many features only seen previously on larger, floor standing systems.

With reusable glass cuvettes, on-board reagent refrigeration and barcoding of samples and reagents, the random access analyser can accommodate up to 40 reagent bottles, 40 patient sample tubes and results can be transferred directly to a host computer using the software interface. The main features include:

• Comprehensive test panel for clinical chemistry and proteins.
• Results can be transferred directly to a host computer using the software interface.
• The facility to perform endpoint and kinetic assays, both monochromatically and bi-chromatically for a variety of clinical chemistry parameters.

4) Vitros Dry Chemistry From Johnson & Johnson

When you need quick, accurate, convenient, and cost-effective diagnostic test results, rely on the compact Vitros DT60 II Chemistry System. This easy-to-use bench top system fits your point-of-care and back-up laboratory testing requirements. It helps you meet your overall laboratory needs — better patient outcomes, reduced overall costs, and improved patient satisfaction.

The Vitros DT60 II Chemistry System provides the convenience and reliability for routine or emergency clinical chemistry testing in many facilities, including:

• Physician Offices — individual and group practices.
• Clinics — outpatient, multi-specialty, hospital-affiliated and independent.
• Hospitals — central lab, emergency department, surgical units, intensive care/coronary care units, geriatric/pediatric/neonatal units.
• Reference Labs — drawing stations and satellite labs.
• Integrated Health Care Systems — Standardised testing at all levels and locations.
• Managed Care Organisations — Preventive and diagnostic testing.

The writer is Managing Director,
NPIL & Dr Phadke's Pathology Lab & Infertility Centre Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.
E-mail: npilphadkelab@vsnl.net