Evaluation of a programmable analyser- the Vitatron PA800
1981

Evaluation of the Vitatron PA800 Analyser

Sample size: 200 publication 15 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Janet M. Smith, I. Fry, A. W. Walker

Primary Institution: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, St. Luke's Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, UK

Hypothesis

The Vitatron PA800 analyser can efficiently measure various serum constituents with accuracy and precision.

Conclusion

The Vitatron PA800 is a reliable instrument that produces accurate results on small volumes of serum with minimal reagent waste.

Supporting Evidence

  • The PA800 can process up to 180 samples per hour.
  • The instrument showed high correlation coefficients above 0.99 for most methods.
  • Temperature control was found to be stable during assays.
  • Precision figures for the phenytoin assay were better than those generally accepted for immunoassay techniques.
  • Results from the endpoint cholesterol method improved after adjusting the pre-programmed factor.

Takeaway

The Vitatron PA800 is a machine that helps doctors quickly and accurately check blood for important substances, using less material than older machines.

Methodology

The evaluation involved precision, accuracy, linearity, and carryover studies over a 4-month period using various serum samples.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to reliance on pre-programmed factors and the need for manual adjustments.

Limitations

The study faced issues with pre-programmed factors affecting accuracy and minor faults in the instrument's design.

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