Photometric Tests for Common Electrolytes Provide High-Precision Alternative

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Mar 2014

As a high quality, reliable alternative or compliment to ion-selective electrode (ISE)-based diagnosis, new photometric tests for sodium, potassium, and chloride provide accurate and precise results over a wide linear range, and are applicable to almost any clinical chemistry analyzer.

Liquid-stable, ready-to-use reagents for photometric determination of sodium, potassium, and chloride are now available from DiaSys Diagnostic Systems (Holzheim, Germany). The drawback of the ISE-based method is the high price for labs with a small to mid-size amount of measurement requests. Time-consuming rinsing and renewal of expensive electrodes regardless of number of tests performed, result in high regular maintenance costs. Using its leading technology in fluid-stable reagents, DiaSys has developed these high-precision photometric electrolyte tests as the laborsaving and economic alternative. In addition, no separate dedicated workstation is required.

Image: Photometric clinical tests for potassium, chloride, and sodium developed by DiaSys provide a reliable, cost-saving alternative or compliment to ISE-based measurement (Photo courtesy of DiaSys Diagnostics).

Additional advantages of the tests include: minimized interferences, traceable to international reference material, excellent on-board and calibration stability, long shelf-life of reagents, reduced workload for lab staff, no sample splitting needed, one report per patient, improved traceability of patient results, reduced risk of data transfer errors. Measuring ranges are: Sodium FS [Fluid Stable] = 100–180 mmol/L, Potassium FS = 2–8 mmol/L, Chloride 21 FS = 40–170 mmol/L

The innovative testing system also includes a one-for-all multielectrolyte calibrator, TruCal E, a liquid-stable, ready-to-use (no dilution steps) calibrator for sodium, potassium, chloride, that contains serum to react more like patient samples. The photometric tests can also be used as a simple backup for ISE-based analysis.

Processes and resources are certified according to ISO 13485, ISO 9001, and fulfill highest internal quality standards. Sustainable processes and products preserve the environment. The chloride test uses an innovative methodology avoiding toxic and harming mercury compounds used in established reagents. Premium after-sales service is also provided.

Related Links:
DiaSys Diagnostic Systems