Equipment

Hello, If a lab is doing manual ELISA and ANA IFA and using previously ran patient as external controls, are they required to perform new lot verification? They are using FDA cleared, CE marked ANA kit. The lab is not CAP accredited. Thank you.

Anyone have a 7600 from ortho? Have they updated the software in them at all? Seems like all they did was change the color and put in the digital camera and dual test slides. The software of the 5600 is dated. Wants you to print everything rather than offering to save to usb or a network folder or have an email option. It would be nice to be able to use a network printer as well. I've heard that they have a hemoglobin A1C microslide coming out this year. That would be better than the supply 3 test. Hopefully. If it works well.

Looking for any information, experience, opinions, or reviews of Precision Systems™ Touch Micro-Osmette™ Osmometer, Model 6002. Our lab and all others in the area use Advanced Instruments, but we will be replacing our current instrument next year and just want to look into all options. The Precision Systems model looks decent, but I cannot find any personal experience or reviews. Any input would be appreciated!

We use a Sartorius Scale (LA120s) to calibrate laboratory pipettes. We have a third party calibrate the scale on an annual basis. Our currently policy states to perform in-house calibration quarterly. When the manufacturer does not specify how often the scale should be calibrated, is there a standard or recommendation for frequency? Would someone be willing to share your policy/form for the calibration? Should the weights used be sent of for calibration on a scheduled basis? I'm new to how this scale should be maintained. The original policy was last revised in 2003. Someone else took care of this at the other facilities I have worked. I appreciate …

We are looking at replacing our current automated chemistry instruments and automation. We have narrowed it down to Siemen's Aptio/Atellica and Beckman Dx700/Dci600 with their new DxA automation. Any thoughts on either vendor? Has anyone seen these systems live? We don't go on site visits for a couple of weeks.

We are switching to Greiner tubes from BD. We average about 150 RBC transfusions per month. We use Ortho gel for ABSC and ABID and tube testing for everything else with Immucor reagents. What would be considered an adequate number of specimens for a parallel study? Would every test we perform have to be done? Can the number of specimens vary with the type of test? When we rarely use tube testing for ABSC or ABID and when we do comparisons every six months, we have to change the 0.8% cells to 3% which is time consuming. We don't have the staff for exhaustive studies.

We are in the process of switching our specimen collection tubes to Greiner Vacutte (previously we used BD). For some reason, with one of our STAT fuges, the stoppers keep coming off while being spun. Not all the time but enough to be annoying. The centrifuge in question is a Hitteck EBA200. The vendor has recommended a certain insert for these Greiner tubes, but they still keep popping off at random. The stoppers are slightly different from the BD tubes, but we cannot see what is causing this. If anyone has any ideas for fixing this they would be appreciated. We are trying to see if Greiner has any ideas. Scott

What is the worst biochem machine you guys have used?

Anyone in the lab field have experience with the 6460 instrument? I am looking at one of them for my laboratory but I have little experience with their instrumentation - looking for some feedback on how well it works, any major issues with service calls or CAP proficiencies, etc - any information would be helpful in making a decision - thanks in advance....

Anyone using Siemens CentraLink for qc? I’m having trouble understanding how to set up the qc. i understand the target is the mean but i don’t get the deviation part. The instruction manual says to enter 1 but that makes the range too tight and 2 makes it too wide when compared to the manufacture ranges. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Any one using this kit and have been getting false positives? On occasion at the ten minute mark{completion} the control is showing a definite pink minus sign, but the migration line that creeps up towards the top will flag a positive for A or B even when there is no definite pink line parallel to the control, on repeat testing the result will be negative. If the test strip is read some time after the migration line has moved up it will be negative but it is not in protocol to read it past the ten minute mark...thanks Norm

How do you confirm the accuracy or quality of material before use when temps are out of range? 2 scenarios: 1. Reagent range temp is 2-8C. Fridge temp increases to 10 C for 30 minutes during inventory before returning to acceptable range. 2. Reagent range temp is 2-8C. Fridge temp increases to 22 C for 2 hours before discovery and reagents moved to another fridge. COM.30800 Temperature Corrective Action There is evidence of corrective action taken if acceptable temperature ranges for temperature-dependent equipment and environmental tem…

Hi all, Our GEM4000 low HGB AMR is 6.5 based on the lowest PVP HGB level. IL states that the instrument can measure HGBs as low as 3. Does anyone measure lower than 6.5 and what calibrator are you using?

Has anyone completed a conversion from Sunquest Laboratory system to the Epic (Beaker) lab system? IF so, how'd it go? Anything we should be aware of? thank you

I need information on whether this test is reliable or any difficulties using this analyte on the Vista. Our lab began using this test with the Vista and find the test unreliable. If a physician questions a value, the test is repeated and we find results do not match. We've troubleshooted this test and tried several recommendations from customer service but still the problem persists. Any information or tips running this test would be helpful.

Is there anyone out there using Advia xpt chemistry? Please comment

2 samples are drawn at same time and are labeled with the same accession number. 1 tube is meant for one area of the lab(like RPR) and the other for the chemistry analyzer (EXL). Occasionally, both samples end up on the EXLs, one sample on one EXL and the other sample on the other EXL. Both instruments are set to autofile and if both samples come off within seconds to minutes of the other the second result over-writes the first resulting in a corrected report. Has anyone experienced this type of situation and how did you solve this problem? Thanks in advance for your response.

Does anyone have meditech and interface a Radiometer ABL machine with it? If so, do you get demographics when scanning in the barcode number? This has never worked for us. thanks!

Good Morning every one. We are going to start with vitros 350 chemistry analyzer , i would like any kind of help regarding documentation and validation . Or any guide line which hepls us and make us comfortable . thanks in Advance Regards Changezi

We were recently inspected by TJC. We are not allowed to correlate our oxicom with our GEM3000. We do not currently have an iSTAT. Any suggestions?! Thanks!

Anyone using an External QC with their GEM blood gas analyzers? The iQM program on the GEMS is Okay, however I am considering introducing an external QC.

WE are having to switch to all Coulter instruments, chem and hemo. The hemo DxH is ok when it's not plugged and we're not up on the chemistry DcX yet. More to follow. Am happy these other forums are open and hopefully the word will spread

Can somebody help me out for low volume bech top chemistry analyzer with high rating as far as maintenance and reagent cost saving? please give me some recommendations because there are too many in market. this would be used in physician office with 15 to 20 tests per day basis . thanks

Hi, Can somebody provide me the SOP for ABL800 blood gas analyzer. I need to prepare a SOP for our POCT blood gas analyzer and hence the need. thanks

Currently sending RA's out... and wondered what the average cost to perform in house... any one have an average or approximate cost? Thanks...