Carry-over in Automatic Analysers
Author Information
Author(s): P. M. G. Broughton
Primary Institution: Wolfson Research Laboratories, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre
Hypothesis
How does sample carry-over affect the results of automatic analysers?
Conclusion
Sample carry-over can lead to significant errors in analytical results, especially when concentrations of specimens vary greatly.
Supporting Evidence
- Carry-over is usually less than 1-2% in most automatic analysers.
- Significant errors can occur if the concentration difference between samples is large.
- Reagent carry-over can affect test results depending on the nature of the reagents used.
Takeaway
Sometimes, when testing samples, leftover bits from the last sample can mix with the new one, which can mess up the results.
Methodology
The study discusses methods for measuring sample carry-over by analyzing sequences of specimens with varying concentrations.
Potential Biases
Potential bias may arise from the order of testing and the types of specimens used.
Limitations
The effects of carry-over may not be significant in routine analyses if precision is satisfactory.
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