Clin Chem Lab Med
-
In response to increasingly complex demands in terms of productivity and budgets, there is a critical need to avoid mistakes during instrument selection that will be financially costly, and adversely affect customers, staff, productivity and test turnaround time. As there is no "one size fits all", guidelines must be appropriate to permit informed decision making. A Medline search was conducted to assess background knowledge in this area, using the terms "laboratory instrument selection" and "laboratory instrument evaluation". ⋯ Appropriate criteria for instrument selection were established in the current report based on subjective and objective (technical) evaluations. Additionally, a sound and simple financial approach is also suggested to help in making informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. We propose that such a process as outlined in our report will protect laboratories from making costly and avoidable mistakes in the acquisition of major equipment.
-
Total error (TE) in analytical measurement is calculated as systematic error (SE) plus z-times random error (RE). The z-multiplier is typically chosen at the 95% probability level, being 1.96 in the absence of SE is of considerable magnitude (one-sided 95% probability). Up to now, no SE/RE ratio dependent z-values have been considered. Here, we present z-values for SE/RE ratios ranging from 0 to 1. ⋯ The results show that at SE/RE ratios > 0.75 the one-sided 95% probability level is practically reached. The results allow a refined calculation of TE at specified SE/RE ratios and a general understanding of the relevance of two- and one-sided probabilities at different SE/RE ratios.
-
The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic model of combining procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the cord blood and routinely used biochemical parameters and clinical data in the prediction of early onset neonatal infection. ⋯ The diagnostic model based on seven clinical and laboratory parameters, using the concentration of PCT and CRP measurements in the cord blood, could be a useful tool for the prediction of early onset neonatal infection.
-
Modern blood gas analyzers are often coupled to electrolyte and metabolite analyzers. We evaluated a Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer (STP CCX) for the rapid point-of-care measurement of blood gases (pH, pCO2, pO2, sO2), hematocrit (Hct), total hemoglobin (tHb), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), glucose (Glu), lactate (Lac), urea (BUN), ionized calcium (iCa) and ionized magnesium (iMg). ⋯ This analyzer is suitable as a simple and fast diagnostic tool in the laboratory and the critical care unit. However, users should be aware of biases that may lead to clinically significant errors in the assessment of acid-base status.
-
Established general risk score models for intensive care patients incorporate several clinical and laboratory data. However, the collection, documentation and classification of clinical data are time-consuming, incur labor-related costs, and are dependent on the experience of the examiner. Therefore, in the present study a general score for medical intensive care patients based solely on routine laboratory parameters is presented. ⋯ We show that a general risk score for medical intensive care patients on admission based solely on routine laboratory parameters is feasible. The quality of risk estimation using CREEK is comparable to established risk models. Furthermore, this new score is based on quality controlled low-cost laboratory parameters that are routinely measured on admission to the intensive care unit. Therefore, no additional costs are involved.