This paper introduces a kind of evaluation method in pipetting performance on new fully automated biochemistry analyzers by experiments. The performance of sample pipetting volume is confirmed by dye dilution method, the performance of reagent pipetting volume and dummy volume is done by weighing method. Meanwhile, researches and comparative researches on dummy volumes in different conditions have been made, providing valuable reference for clinical applications of automatic biochemistry analyzers.
Automation, Laboratory ; instrumentation ; methods ; Biochemistry ; instrumentation ; methods

Liquid level detection (LLD) is necessary for eliminating carry-over of needle's outside by limiting the depth the needle probes into liquid in auto clinical laboratory analyzers. This paper listed various demands of liquid-handling system under different situations; reviewed various LLD techniques, such as capacitive, air pressure, mechanical vibration, ultrasound, light reflection, CCD imaging etc.; briefly introduced the working principles, features, and limitation of the LLDs; and recapitulated the characteristics of contact and non-contact LLDs. Lastly, the next generation technique of LLD is prospected.
Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods

This paper is to introduce the conception, basic constitution and working flow of laboratory automatic systems, and the domestic and world developments of the laboratory pipelining systems. It analyses the problems and the preferred scheme which should be given careful consideration when a system is to be built in the hospital.
Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; Computer Systems ; Laboratories, Hospital ; standards ; Software ; Specimen Handling ; instrumentation ; methods

No abstract available.
Automation, Laboratory/*methods ; Culture Media/*classification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sputum/*microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pleural/*diagnosis

No abstract available.
*Algorithms ; Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems/*standards ; Humans ; Immunoassay/*methods ; Indicator Dilution Techniques ; alpha-Fetoproteins/*analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish an automatic method for seminal plasma gamma-L-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) detection and evaluate its accuracy, repeatability and linear range.

METHODSWe detected the GGT activity in the seminal plasma by rate assay, and established the detection parameters on an automatic biochemical analyzer. Then, we evaluated the reagent blank absorbance, accuracy, repeatability and linear range of the automatic method, and compared the results obtained from the method and the seminal plasma GGT detection kit (Xindi Biological Pharmaceutical Engineering Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China) commonly used in clinical laboratories.

RESULTSThe average absorbance of reagent blank was 0.0476, and the average change rate of blank absorbance (deltaA/min) was 0.000168. The coefficients of variation (CV) for 3 seminal plasma samples with high, middle and low GGT activity detected for 10 times, respectively, were 0.26%, 4.83% and 1.60%. The accuracy of the automatic method was evaluated by a comparison test, and the relative deviation for each concentration point of 40 seminal plasma samples ranged from 13.38% to 11.05%, which met the requirement of < 15%. There was a good linear relationship (r > 0.99) when the seminal plasma GGT activity was between 299 and 1 833 U/L. A significant positive correlation was found between the seminal plasma GGT detection kit (a colorimetric method) as the control and the automatic method as the test reagent in the results of 115 seminal plasma samples (r = 0.981, P < 0.01), with a Kappa value of 0.776 (P < 0.05) and a coincidence rate of 90.43%.

CONCLUSIONThe established automatic method to detect seminal plasma GGT activity has a low reagent blank, good repeatability and accuracy, and fine concordance with the colorimetric method commonly used in clinical laboratories. It is simple, rapid and suitable for screening large numbers of samples, avoids the necessity of diluting the seminal plasma sample, and saves a lot of manpower and reagents.

Automation, Laboratory ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Semen ; enzymology ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; analysis

This study was aimed to analyze the results of false positive reaction in bacterial detection of blood samples with BacT/ALERT 3D system, to evaluate the specificity of this system, and to decrease the false positive reaction. Each reaction flasks in past five years were processed for bacteria isolation and identification. When the initial cultures were positive, the remaining samples and the corresponding units were recultured if still available. 11395 blood samples were detected. It is worthy of note that the incubator temperature should be stabilized, avoiding fluctuation; when the cultures were alarmed, the reaction flasks showed be kept some hours for further incubation so as to trace a sharply increasing signal to support the judgement of true bacterial growth. The results indicated that 122 samples (1.07%) wee positive at initial culture, out of them 107 samples (88.7%) were found bacterial, and 15 samples (12.3%) were found nothing. The detection curves of positive samples resulted from bacterial growth showed ascent. In conclusion, maintenance of temperature stability and avoidance of temperature fluctuation in incubator could decrease the occurrence of false-positive reaction in detection process. The reaction flasks with positive results at initial culture should be recultured, and whether existence of a sharply ascending logarilhimic growth phase in bacterial growth curve should be further detected, which are helpful to distinguish false-positive reactions from true positive, and thus increase the specificity of the BacT/ALERT system.
Automation, Laboratory ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques ; methods ; Blood ; microbiology ; Culture Media ; False Positive Reactions ; Humans

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of implementation of an automated liquid culture system on the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy in an HIV-uninfected patient population. We retrospectively compared the culture yield, time to positivity, and contamination rate of pleural effusion samples in the BACTEC Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube 960 (MGIT) and Ogawa media among patients with tuberculous pleurisy. Out of 104 effusion samples, 43 (41.3%) were culture positive on either the MGIT or the Ogawa media. The culture yield of MGIT was higher (40.4%, 42/104) than that of Ogawa media (18.3%, 19/104) (P<0.001). One of the samples was positive only on the Ogawa medium. The median time to positivity was faster in the MGIT (18 days, range 8-32 days) than in the Ogawa media (37 days, range 20-59 days) (P<0.001). No contamination or growth of nontuberculous mycobacterium was observed on either of the culture media. In conclusion, the automated liquid culture system could provide approximately twice as high yields and fast results in effusion culture, compared to solid media. Supplemental solid media may have a limited impact on maximizing sensitivity in effusion culture; however, further studies are required.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Automation, Laboratory/*methods ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Culture Media/*classification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pleura/microbiology/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum/*microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pleural/*diagnosis ; Young Adult