Clinical chemistry and Immunoassay Flashcards
Early automation
First instruments were in
Many manual techniques were
✦ First instruments were in
hematology & chemistry
✦ Many manual techniques were
adaptable to automation, making
those areas of the laboratory
easy targets for automation
Why Automation
Increase the number of tests blank
expansion of
Minimize blank
Minimize errors that blank
Improves blank
use less
reduction in
- Increase the number of tests by a operator in a
given time - Expansion of laboratory testing
- Minimize operator variables
- Minimize errors that could occur in manual
analyses - Improve laboratory safety
- Use less sample and reagent for each test
[Reduction of cost] - Reduction in turn around time
Common task of automation
- Measurement and Proportion of sample and
reagents - Mixing
- Incubation
- Sensing
- Computation
- Readout
Proportioning
Bulk and unit reagents
✦ Bulk (Stock) Reagents: pre-made
▪ as concentrates requiring dilution
▪ dry reagents(lyophilized) requiring reconstitution
✦ Unit Reagents: more expensive, less error
▪ Sufficient reagent is present for single test
▪ Dry Film: uses paper or a series of thin films impregnated
with desired reagents
▪ Reagent will be ready by wetting the paper or film with water,
buffer, or sample.
▪ Container/test tube with pre-measured liquids or powders
addition of sample to reagent
✦ Unit Reagent: simply add exact amount of sample
✦ Aliquoting: aliquot proper amounts of sample & reagent
✦ Sample: introduced into the analyzer with a thin,
stainless steel probe
Sample carryover
✦ Because the same probe is used repeatedly for
sequential samples, there is a potential for contamination
of a specimen by a preceding one.
Sample carryover is reduced by
1) Aspiration of a wash liquid (saline, water or wash buffer)
between samples
2) A back flush of the probe: wash liquid flows through the
probe in an opposite direction to that of the aspiration,
into wast container.
3) Dispensing reagent through the same probe using the
greater volume to flush the probe
Percent carry over
measured by placing and testing
low concentration samples before and after a high
concentration sample
Percent carryover calculations
% carryover= (L2-L1)/H * 100%
L1= 1st low concentration reagent
L2= 2nd low concentration reagent
H= is high concentration reagent
Calculations should be made on
each analyte to develop
repeat policy on high values
Mixing
✦ (may be) accomplished by peristaltic pumps with
mixing coils, magnets, centrifugal force or
mechanical devices.
✦ Computer program determines how long, vigorous, etc.
✦ Mixing varies, dependent upon the automation system
Mixing types
✦ Continuous flow systems
▪ mixing coils
✦ Discrete batch analyzers
▪ centrifugal force or flow
turbulence
✦ Unit reagent analyzers
▪ agitation of the pack
✦ Dry film technique
▪ liquid spreads via diffusion
through matrix of test area
Incubation
✦ Required Time & Temperature for incubation must be
regulated
▪ Time is usually regulated by holding the reaction in
one step of the instrument (the cuvette or tubing) for a
period of time
▪ Temperature is controlled by heating blocks or baths
Sensing devices
✦ Sensors include 1) spectrophotometers, 2) nephelometers,
3) fluorometers, 4) ISE/potentiometers
✦ May have one or many, depending on analyzer
✦ Most are capable of both single-point (endpoint) and
multiple-point measurements (kinetic-rate reactions)
Computation
Beers Lambert law
✦ Automated computation: Analog & Digital.
✦ Many computations are based on Beer’s Law, with the
instrument comparing two readings, the voltage output of
the reaction and the blank (Analog)
✦ Electrometer converts voltage signal to digital form
(Digital)
✦ Internal computer uses stored calibration curve to derive
result
A=abc A = absorbance (no units)
a = molar absorptivity (L/mol/cm) or (L/gm/cm)
b = path length of cuvette (cm)
c = concentration (mol/L) or (gm/L)
Readout devices
✦ Readouts
▪ Generally on a screen
▪ (may be) Printed
Results must be evaluated by MLS before release to
patient chart (QC evaluated, etc.): “Verification”
Additional capabilities
Most automation now also have
Performed by what or what
Many have the ability to inference with blank and blank
✦ Most automation now also have
▪ Patient specimen identification capabilities
▪ Test ordering capabilities
➢(may be) Performed manually or by bar code
May have ability to interface with laboratory and hospital
information systems (many bi-directional)
Computer interface.
the blank directional interface allows the input and output of results of results to the patient chart
Blank directional interface allows only reporting a result
✦ Many analyzers have capability to interface with LIS or
HIS
✦ Bi-directional interface allows input (ordering of
procedure from remote site or laboratory accessioning
site) and output of result to patient chart
✦ Unidirectional interface, in general, allows reporting a
result
Quality control
many analyzers will blank, blank, and analyze blank
Alert of possible what
Require or automatically perform what
✦ Many analyzers will collect, store and analyze quality
control data, applying applicable rules
✦ Alert user of out-of-control data
✦ Alert user of possible problem
✦ Require or automatically perform calibration
Archive information
analyzers store and retrieve what Information
Many include what information
Analyzers store and retrieve archived information
✓ May include calibration, quality control, and patient results for
designated periods of time
✓ May include maintenance and repair records
Types of automation
✦ Total Laboratory Automation (TLA)
✦ Modular Integrated Systems (MIS)
✦ Stand-alone systems
Total lab automation
Common in what labs
connected by what
what coded specimens
✦ “Cradle to grave” automation
✦ Common in Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation
✦ Connected by track system
▪ Bar coded specimens
▪ Sorters
▪ Aliquoters
▪ Centrifuges
▪ Analyzers
▪ Archiving
TLA components
✦ Centrifuge
▪ Often rate limiting step
✦ Decapper
✦ Aliquoter
▪ Clot sensor
▪ Ample quantity
▪ Proportioning into additional tubes (barcode)
TLA benefits
Full Time Equivalent: the ratio of the total number of paid hours during a period by the number of working hours
✦ Low handling
▪ Less error (27% reduction)
▪ Safety
✦ Increased productivity
▪ Fewer FTEs (20% reduction)
✦ Decreased turn-around time
✦ Adaptable
▪ Additional units as needed
✦ Automated reporting
in that period