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
TLA drawbacks
✦ Substantial financial
investment
▪ $2-5 million w/o space
renovation
✦ Laboratory space
▪ Construction costs
✦ Integration of other vendor
instruments
Modular integrated systems.
Separate what for various departments
blank for different manufacturers
Easier to interface with the
Drawbacks
✦ Front-end specimen processing similar to TLA
✦ Separate tracks for various departments
✦ Increased handling over TLA
✦ Benefits
▪ Less cost, space
▪ Interface multiple modules from disparate manufacturers
▪ Easier to interface with the LIS.
✦ Drawback”
* Decrease mean turn around time vs, TLA system (50 min
- 2 hr)
* Lower productivity vs, TLA system
Modular integrated systems benefits
✦ MIS provides a more attractive approach for smaller labs.
✦ MIS are smaller, require less investment and less
planning than TLA.
✦ MIS can be configured to include several different
platforms, i.e. hematology and immunochemistry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC_esYj4VIM
Continuous flow analyzers.
Continuously pumped what and separated by what and what
blank type of analyzer capable of providing a single test result on how many samples/hr
The blank is critical in determining flow rates and sample volumes
problems
❖ Continuous Flow (Early analyzers)
▪ tubing and coils
▪ flow stream
▪ continuously pump sample - separated by air bubbles and
wash solutions
✦ Single-channel, sequential batch analyzer capable of providing
a single test result on approximately 40 samples / hr
✦ The “diameter of the tubing” is critical in determining flow rates
and sample volume.
✦ Significant carry-over problems and wasteful use of
continuously flowing reagents
Non-selective analyzers
▪ Perform the entire battery of tests on each sample
Batch analyzers
▪ Perform the same test simultaneously on all
samples
▪ Decreased use
Random access analyzers
▪ Perform specified multiple tests in any order
Multiple Parameter (Analytes) Analyzer
▪ Perform multiple tests per sample either sequentially
or simultaneously
Random access.
blank test possible
Not every blank performed on every blank
Less blank waste
Tests can be blank or blank
replaced what
✦ Multiple tests possible
✦ Not every test performed on every sample
▪ Programmable
▪ Less reagent waste
▪ Tests can be sequential or simultaneous
✦ Mostly replaced batch analyzers
Discrete analyzers
✦ Instruments that compartmentalize each test reaction
✦ Most current analyzers are discrete
Discrete batch analyzers
– Perform only one type of assay at a time on
compartmentalized samples
Discrete multi-sequential analyzers
– Discrete: each specimen separate from others
– Sequential: tests performed one at a time
– Multiple: numerous tests can be performed on each
sample
Discrete Multiple Simultaneous Analyzers
– All analyzers of this type have random access
capability
– Discrete: each specimen separate from all others
– Multiple: numerous tests can be performed on each
sample
– Simultaneous: many tests are performed at same
time
Terminology
✦ Test repertoire
▪ Immediate
▪ Total
✦ Dwell time
▪ Time specimen is in instrument
▪ Seconds to days (vitamin assay)
✦ Throughput
▪ Max tests per hour, shift, day
Current automation
✦ Many discrete, random access analyzers that incorporate
multiple chemical, electronic, immunologic, and optic
technologies.
✦ Contain and use sophisticated computer technology for
data handling
✦ Offer large test menus
Results of automation in the lab
✦ Users of laboratory services have pressed for increased
efficiency, productivity, precision, accuracy
✦ Technology changes rapidly: A new ‘generation’ of
instruments appears approximately every 5 years
Changing roles
✦ Manual methods in a direct, hand-on production of data
▪ Highly complex tests
▪ New test development
▪ PPM
✦ Data analyzer/ manager
▪ Routine tests
▪ Moderately complex
examples of changing roles
✦ Operate instruments
✦ Analyze and interpret data
✦ Perform preventive maintenance
✦ Basic instrument repair
✦ Sophisticated problem-solving skills
✦ Educator (POC, novel technologies)
Immunochemical techniques
Most what
Add blank to the sample containing what
Detects what
Ex
✴ Most common
‣ Add labeled antibody to
the patient’s sample
(analyte) contains
antigen
‣ Detecting patient’s
antibody
Ex) Infectious disease, serology,
allergy testing, &
autoimmune testing
Antibodies in immunoassays
Characteristics: 1) Specificity, 2) Affinity, 3) Cross-linking
A1antitrypsin
remove trypsin
trypsin- is a proteolytic enzyme
Prozone
zone of antibody excess
zone of equivalence
where you can read reaction
Post zone
Zone of antigen excess
Enhancing precipitation
blank effect
polymer types
✦ Polymer Effect
‣ Linear polymers enhance immune complex
precipitation
✦ Polymer Types
* Dextran
* PVA
* PEG
Methods for ag-ab detection.
- Precipitation or Agglutination
- Hemagglutination and Hemagglutination
inhibition - Passive Gel Diffusion
- Radio-immunoassays
- ELISA
- Immunofluorescence
- Immmunoblotting
- Immunochromatography
Precipatation
‣ Antibodies react with soluble substances
ex) proteins, carbohydrates, etc
‣ Reaction visible with naked eye - particles
Agglutination
‣ Antibodies react with insoluble substances
ex) RBCs, bacterial cells, latex particles coated with antigen
‣ Reaction visible with naked eye – larger clumps
(aggregates)
‣ If agglutination target is RBCs, called hemagglutination