Validating the Performance of Body Fluid Specimens

In health care, the analysis of body fluids plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of conditions. Traditionally, clinical laboratorians have provided analysis of body fluid specimens without question while also recognizing the sometimes difficult work that goes into their collection. As standards for method validation and laboratory developed tests (LDTs) evolve, the analysis of body fluids is receiving increased attention from both laboratories and regulatory bodies.

The clinical laboratory’s overarching goal is to ensure accurate test results from all specimens. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every laboratory to investigate the analytical performance of the tests performed on the various fluid types accepted and to provide a context for result interpretation.

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Source: medlabmag

Simplify Residual Renal Function (RRF) Estimation

Determination and monitoring of RRF has been a long-standing challenge for laboratories. Unreliable, labor-intensive urine collection and complex equations have made accurate measurement and reporting problematic.

Siemens N Latex BTP assay is the first marker to accurately, reliably, and simply estimate RRF status with one serum sample.

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"BTP provides a promising blood measure of RRF that could facilitate existing recommendations to
integrate regular assessment of RKF.

Source:healthcare/siemens

Automated Analyzers Add Efficiency to Laboratory Testing

Automation, broadly defined, is the mechanization of the steps in a procedure. Through mechanization of analyses there is increased reproducibility of results. Automation allows a reduction of human error and laboratory expenses, which is important in these economic times, as laboratories are challenged with budgetary constraints.

In 1957 the first completely automatic method for colorimetric analysis was reported,1 and then the analytical system used was brought to the market as the AutoAnalyzer by the company Technicon. Since then, continuous scientific and technological advances as well as developments in robotics and information technology have led to the introduction of the wide range of automated analyzers currently in the market, which can be applied to different working laboratory environments. Though automation reduces the hands-on intervention and the time needed to set up, run, and analyze results, human intervention is still required for loading/unloading, operation, and instrument maintenance, as well as for the interpretation of results.

Read more: Automated Analyzers Add Efficiency to Laboratory Testing

Source: RocheDiagnosticsUSA