Chemistry systems do more, faster

July 1, 2003
The
Piccolo system, at 15 cm x 29 cm x 24 cm and under 7 kg, is highly portable and adaptable to line or battery power, operates from any 12V source and has an RS-232 port. Piccolos Intelligent Quality Control system automatically performs over 100 checks on each sample and self-calibrates with each run to assure test integrity. A single-use plastic disk (a modern version of the centrifugal analyzer) contains all the reagents and diluent to perform a panel of up to 12 tests on a 100-mL sample of whole blood, serum or plasma.
Piccolo 
Abaxis Inc.
www.rsleads.com/307ml-168High throughput
The
ARCHITECT c8000 clinical chemistry system uses automatic rerun, dilution and reflex testing capability with 217 sample positions for greater capacity and increased efficiency. Its high throughput is useful for todays laboratory, with up to 800 photometric and 600 ISE tests per hour. The c8000 has 68 assays on board with a throughput of up to 1,200 tests per hour. Advanced operating capabilities include color graphics, Windows NT OS and automated maintenance features. Its modular platform can combine with the ARCHITECT
i2000SR, an immunoassay system, to form the ARCHITECT
ci8200, which integrates chemistry and immunoassay testing on one platform.
ARCHITECT c8000
Abbott Laboratories
www.rsleads.com/307ml-169Powerful, compact system
The
ACE clinical chemistry system offers a space-efficient footprint that covers less than two square feet of counter space and includes a built-in ISE module. Additional features include STAT-interrupt capability, a test menu including 60 closed- and open-channel assays and on-board sample and reagent refrigeration. ACE liquid reagents, most with 30-day calibration stability, provide labor and cost-savings benefits. On-board reagent inventory management tracks usage.
ACEAlfa Wassermann Inc.www.rsleads.com/307ml-170Reliability and flexibility
Designed for the high-volume laboratory, the
ADVIA 2400 clinical chemistry system provides workstation consolidation with more than 80 available chemistry and special chemistry applications. The system offers walkaway capability with an on-board capacity of over 450 specimens with its Universal Rack Handler option, 32,000 photometric tests and 90,000 ISE tests. The sample-saver technology allows automatic repeats, dilutions and reflex testing without operator intervention. Specimens are aspirated directly from the track, without the need for an expensive robotic interface. The ADVIA 2400 system offers a 99% uptime guarantee.
ADVIA 2400Bayer Diagnosticswww.rsleads.com/307ml-171Chemistry and immunoassay testing
The
SYNCHRON LXi 725s parallel processing technology combines the companys chemistry analysis technology with immunoassay testing, data management and automated sample handling on a single platform. The system helps labs consolidate workstations, decrease pre-analytical sample-processing steps, improve test turnaround time and increase worker safety. The LXi 725 features a test menu of 146 chemistry and immunoassay tests, including assays for basic critical care, metabolic, drugs-of-abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, cardiac, thyroid, fertility and cancer, as well as other esoteric and specialty tests. Assays include the companys Access AccuTnI troponin I and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein tests.
Beckman Coulter Inc.
SYNCHRON LXi 725
www.rsleads.com/307ml-172Mobile stat analyzer
The
Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress (CCX) offers seven test menus, for as few as three to as many as 19 measured and 29 calculated tests. The system can measure blood gases, electrolytes, chemistry and hematology in a single, compact instrument. Measured tests include, among others, pH, PCO2, PO2, SO2%, hematocrit and hemoglobin, sodium, potassium, glucose, BUN, creatinine and lactate. CCX moves easily on its mobile cart. Snap-in reagent packs contain all required liquid and gas calibrators to eliminate bulky gas tanks, regulators, humidifiers and cleaning solution bottles. CCX requires only 50 mL of whole blood for a blood gas panel.
Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress
Nova Biomedical Corporation
www.rsleads.com/307ml-173Chemistry-immuno analyzers
The
AU400e/AU640e chemistry-immuno analyzer is available in two versions to accommodate almost any size laboratory or hospital. The systems feature versatile performance, with a 122-test menu that includes general and urine chemistries, specific proteins, DAT, TDM, thyroid and esoteric tests, with throughput ranging from 400 to 1,200 tests per hour. The company also offers the AU2700 and AU5400 chemistry-immuno analyzers for high- volume labs. All of these chemistry-immuno systems are fully standardized across models to provide consistent system-to-system results and reference ranges within the same 122-test menu, using the same reagents, calibrators and controls.
AU400e/AU640eOlympus America Inc.www.rsleads.com/307ml-174Integrated modular systems
Four new configurations of the
Integrated Modular Analytics system combine clinical chemistry and immunoassay testing on a single platform for efficiency and productivity. Samples are processed in one pass, with a single user interface, a single point of entry and a single patient report. The four configurations allow labs to choose a system suited to specific volume and test mix requirements. Optimal system configurations are determined by customer-specific test volumes, menu and workflow requirements. Every configuration allows for single-platform disease management, drawing from a test menu of more than 140 chemistry and immunoassay tests with 99.9% uptime.
Integrated Modular Analytics systemsRoche Diagnosticswww.rsleads.com/307ml-175Augmented hardware and software
The Dimension RxL Max offers enhancements to the RxL platform, including a touchscreen operator interface with immediate access to sample information for STATs and abnormal specimens, and visual early-warning alerts for reagent inventory, calibration and supply needs. Enhanced software provides the capability to electronically transfer and store QC and patient test results. The system also offers a greater than 35% increase in the number of basic metabolic panels that can be processed per hour. A sample integrity check function contributes to assuring the quality of test results by identifying samples with common interferents, such as hemolysis, icterus or
lipemia.
Dimension RxL Max www.rsleads.com/307ml-176Brad Fitzgerald is associate editor of
MLO. Daniel M. Baer, MD, in preparing this article.
                                                                             
July 2003: Vol. 35, No. 7
© 2003 Nelson Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.