Validation of Hematology Analyzers

Perhaps the most common laboratory procedure performed for hospital patients and outpatients is complete blood count (CBC) or CBC with differential. CBC serves as a screening and diagnostic test for a wide range of conditions and diseases as well as a monitoring tool for treatment and disease status. Given its foundational nature and despite its relative simplicity, the veracity of this basic blood testing is essential. Therefore, thorough validation testing on all new hematology analyzers must be performed to ensure patient safety.

It is reasonable to assume that a newly acquired piece of diagnostic equipment would run as intended, as manufacturers perform their own validation testing to prove intended use and to fulfill regulatory requirements prior to launching a product in the market. However, the ultimate responsibility of verifying instrument performance specifications and characteristics prior to the patient testing falls to the end-user laboratory.

Read more: Validation of Hematology Analyzers

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.

Read more:  Simplify Residual Renal Function (RRF) Estimation

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

Source:healthcare/siemens

Color Atlas of Hematology: Practical Microscopic and Clinical Diagnosis (English)

Publisher Description: A Flexibook for both the specialist and non-specialist, the new book offers accessible information on hematology in a succinct format. In addition to providing basic methodology, the book utilizes more than 260 color illustrations to detail the most up-to-date clinical procedures. Numerous tables and flow charts are included to assist in differential diagnosis, making this a valuable didactic reference for nurses, practicing physicians and residents preparing for board examinations.

Notes: Thieme international - clinical sciences

Author Biography: H. Theml, H. Diem, T. Haferlach

Review: The Color Atlas of Hematology is a pocket book edition that follows the best tradition of pocket handbooks in the field of hematology. Microphotographs are highly useful for faithfully presenting the real appearance of hematopoietic cells in blood and bone marrow smears. This handbook provides characteristic clinical pictures of particular hematologic diseases, a key to rapid recognition of blood cells, typical cell changes, complete diagnostic methods, and easy visual orientation. [The authors] have offered us a valuable and precious help in the diagnosis of hematologic diseases for both specialists and nonspecialists as well as for all those interested in learning more about blood cell morphology.--Acta Clinica Croatica

Details: ISBN 3136731026; AUTHOR Harald Klaus Theml; PUBLISHER Thieme Publishing Group; YEAR 2003; EDITION 2nd; ISBN-103136731026; ISBN-139783136731024; FORMAT Paperback; PUBLICATION DATE 2003-12-10; IMPRINT Thieme Publishing Group; ; PLACE OF PUBLICATION Stuttgart; COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION Germany; DEWEY 616.15; PAGES 208; LANGUAGE English; SUBTITLE Practical Microscopic and Clinical Diagnosis; REPLACES 9781588901934; ILLUSTRATIONS 262; DIMENSIONS 4862mm x 3080mm x 184mm

Read more: Color Atlas of Hematology: Practical Microscopic and Clinical Diagnosis (English)

Source: 1. http://www.grsmu.by

             2. https://books.google.com

Biomedical Laboratory Automation

Improve safety and efficiency in various types of clinical laboratories with Thermo Scientific™ TCAutomation™ Laboratory Automation Solutions. This expandable and scalable, fully-featured laboratory automation solution allows labor-intensive tasks in pre- and post-analytical phases of sample management to be automated in different combinations. Depending on the floor plan and efiiciency requirements, the TCAutomation™ systems can be expanded step-by-step.

TCAutomation™ systems throughput can range from 250 up to 1000 tubes per hour. Because solutions are modular, they are easy to expand. Automating can be started from a certain function and built up towards total laboratory automation. Samples are transported in the system within dual-lane conveyors in a multitube carrier which accommodates several tube sizes. The carrier includes an embedded microchip, based on RFID technology, making sample identification fast and reliable, and enabling excellent real-time sample tracking possibilities.

Read more: Biomedical Laboratory Automation

Download: Thermo Scientific TCAutomation Laboratory Automation Solution

Source: ThermoFisherScientific

ERBA Mannheim Clinical Chemistry Analyzer XL-1000

Automated high throughput random access analyzer, it offers continuous sample loading facility using racks. Contrary to other automatic analyzers, the sample loading is automatic instead of manual thereby enhancing precision.

• Throughput of upto 1040 tests/hour with ISE- 800 photometric tests/ hr and 240 tests/ hr with ISE
• Permanent hard glass cuvettes – requiring no replacement for upto 4-5 years
• Direct ISE measurement for Na/K/Cl/Li (optional)
• Auto re-run, auto dilution, reflex testing
• Probes with clot detection & Vertical Obstruction Detection feature
• Low reagent/test consumption -requires reagent volume of just 150 µL, thereby proving to be cost effective for laboratories
• Extensive Quality Control menu (L-J chart, twin plot, QC rules)

Read more: ERBA Mannheim Clinical Chemistry Analyzer XL-1000

Source: ERBA Mannheim

Molecular Diagnostics in the Microbiology Laboratory

A look at some of the newest generation ‘load and go’ molecular microbiology analyzers.

For decades, pathogens have been isolated and grown in blood cultures, and detected using microscopes, serology and biochemical techniques. However the last few years have seen a revolution in modern microbiology.

The above tests still form the core work of most routine microbiology labs, but modern analytical techniques such as molecular diagnostics and mass spectrometry are increasingly being incorporated, to varying degrees, in laboratories around the world.

Molecular diagnostics refers to the analysis of nucleic acid from DNA or RNA. In the clinical microbiology lab, scientists are looking for the nucleic acid of microorganisms to confirm or exclude a diagnosis.

The molecular diagnostic work undertaken in the lab can vary from a simple, manual monoplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based test to complex automated, multiplex testing (testing for multiple pathogens simultaneously). Some of the newest generation ‘load and go’ molecular analyzers are detailed below.

VERIS Mdx Molecular Diagnostics System

The DxN VERIS combines sample prep and sample analysis steps into a single workflow. The automation of DNA extraction, purification, assay set-up and analysis saves the user time and also prevents user error and the risk of contamination. Using real-time PCR, the system is designed for multiplex assays and uses magnetic particle separation for nucleic acid extraction and purification. The initial test menu includes Cytomegalovirus, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV-1 ......

Read more: Molecular Diagnostics in the Microbiology Laboratory

Microbiology has traditionally involved use of blood cultures, however molecular methods are
increasingly employed in modern laboratories;
Beckman Coulter's VERIS Mdx Molecular Diagnostics System

Source: SelectScience