Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analyzer Provides Results in 50 Seconds

A new blood gas and electrolyte (BGE) analyzer provides high quality measurements in just 50 seconds including blood gases (pH, PCO2, PO2), electrolytes (Na+, K+, Ca++, Cl-), and hematocrit (Hct). From the measurements a number of parameters are additionally calculated, for instance, base excess (BE).

Roche Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) announced the launch of the cobas b 121 blood gas analyzer in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa), Asian, and Latin American markets. The cobas b 121 system meets expectations for a low cost, effective instrument for the rapid determination of blood gases and electrolytes.

The system supports clinical laboratories in facing the challenge of increasing cost pressure on healthcare. High levels of automation and low levels of maintenance mean very little operator intervention. This combined with its economy mode, maintenance-free, long-life sensors, and reusable waste bottles help to save costs.

The already existing cobas b 121 platform was simplified and reduced to the analytes needed for the rapid determination of blood gas and electrolytes status as well as acid base disorders. Although the complexity has been reduced on the system, it has kept the touch screen interface and high levels of on-board data management and connectivity. Customers currently using separate analyzers for blood gas and electrolyte measurements can now consolidate blood gases and electrolytes on one analyzer for greater efficiency.

The instrument is one of the fastest BGE systems for medium to high throughput (30 samples per hour) situations, and the maintenance-free sensors and high volume, reusable reagent bottles make it easy to operate and reliable. Calibrations are run automatically with a liquid calibration system, making it entirely gas-free.

Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is a world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology. It is also active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory and metabolic disorders, and diseases of the central nervous system.

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