Classification of clinical analysers

The large variety of clinical analysers currently available can be classified according to two basic criteria, namely (Table 14.1)  

Below are described some of the most representative clinical analysers according to the type of technique that they use, although due mention is made in each instance to the type of determination for which they are intended. 

Continuous-flow analysers in their segmented version prevailed in the automation of clinical chemistry for over a decade, until they began to be displaced by batch analysers which, oddly enough, where Introduced by the same manufacturers who launched and popularized SFA. This type of analyser was commented on In Chapter 5, which described in detail the Analyzers II, SMA 12/60 and SMAC, as well as a series of non-cllnlcal applications grouped according to the type of detection system used. 

Typical examples of the clinical applications of these instruments are the enzymatic and non-enzymatic determination of cholesterol In serum with the aid of the SMAC. 

The non-enzymatic determination of cholesterol developed by Burchard [12] is based on its reaction with strong acids as described by Llebermann [11]. The method was formerly developed in its manual version by Huan et al. [13] and later automated by Levine et al. [14]. The reaction sequence taking place after the serum sample is mixed with sulphuric acid involves a colour change from red to violet (bis-cholestadienylmonosulphonic acid, BCDMSA) and then to green (bis-cholestadienyldisulphonic acid, BCDDSA), which is monitored at 630 nm  

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