Evaluation of the Blood Gas & Electrolytes Analyzer Rapidlab 860

Lim, Hyun; Lee, Hye Soo; Choi, Sam Im; Kim, Dal Sik

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We evaluated the performance of the Rapidlab 860 (Chiron Diagnostics, Medfield, MA, USA), the newly introduced automated blood gas&electrolytes analyzer, according to the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.
METHODS
The tested analytes were pH (hydrogen ion activity), PCO(2) (carbon dioxide pressure or tension), PO(2) (oxygen pressure or tension), Na(+) (sodium), K(+) (potassium), Ca(++) (ionized calcium), Cl(-)(chloride), HCO(3)(-)(bicarbonate), ctCO(2) (concentration of total carbon dioxide). Within-day precision, between-day precision, and sample-related carryover were analyzed using quality control materials at three different concentration levels for each analyte. Correlation was compared with the routinely used NOVA-Stat Profile 5 (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA, USA) with patient's whole blood samples.
RESULTS
The within-day coefficients of variations (CVs) for pH, PCO(2), Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), HCO(3)(-), and ctCO(2) were less than 5.0%. The within-day CVs for PO(2) and Cl(-) at low concentration levels were 7.128% and 5.065%, respectively. The between-day CVs for each group were less than 5.0% in all analytes. Sample-related carryover was less than 5.0% in all items. Coefficients of correlation exceeded 0.950 except for PCO(2) and HCO(3)(-).
CONCLUSIONS
Rapidlab 860 showed good precision, close correlation with NOVA-Stat Profile 5 and sample-related carryover was barely present for pH, PCO(2), PO(2), Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), Cl(-), HCO(3)()-ctCO(2).