• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.6-11
• /
• 2011

In clinical chemistry tests, the interfering substances such as hemoglobin, lipid, bilirubin, and drugs, etc. can cause the changes of test results performed by spectrophotometrical methods. We evaluated the effects of interfering substances on the test results by adding interfering substances on the samples in the 19 kinds of clinical chemistry tests such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, total protein, albumin, glucose, total cholesterol, total bilirubin, triglyceride, uric acid, calcium, inorganic phosphours, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and C-reactive protein using newly implemented automatic chemical analyzer Toshiba TBA-C8000 under the direction of CLSI EP07-A guideline. Hemolytic samples show increased concentration of total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase and reduced concentration of total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase by interfering effect. Hyperlipemic samples show increased concentration of total protein and alkaline phosphatase and reduced concentration of low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The samples with conjugated bilirubinemia show increased concentration of inorganic phosphours, otherwise the samples with unconjugated bilirubinemia show no interference or allowable range in the test result.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.301-309
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Point-of-care tests (POCTs) have the potential to significantly influence management of neonates. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of the POCT chemistry analyzer in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Blood samples of neonates admitted to the NICU were tested using a POCT chemistry analyzer (Piccolo Xpress Chemistry Analyzer, Abaxis, Union City, CA, USA) and a central laboratory chemical analyzer (Chemistry analyzer 7600-110, Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) from March to September, 2010. Correlation of 15 analytes between the POCT and the central laboratory machine was evaluated. For consistency of the POCT, three consecutive samplings were performed. Differences among the three tests were recorded. The causes of performance errors were checked through log files. Results: One hundred of 112 pairs of tests for accuracy performed in 54 neonates showed a high correlation between the two machines. Twelve performance errors occurred during the 112 tests. The most common error was insufficient sample error. Eighteen triplet tests performed in 18 patients for consistency revealed a difference range of 3-10%, which was considered to be acceptable. No error occurred during the 54 tests. Conclusion: The POCT is capable of analyzing multiple analytes with a minimal amount of whole blood in a short time. The few performance errors noted presently are likely preventable. This POCT is concluded to be suitable for use as a simple and rapid diagnostic method in the NICU with a minimal amount of blood collected in a less invasive manner.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.14.1-14.11
• /
• 2021

Background: Quantitation of urine protein is important in dogs with chronic kidney disease. Various analyzers are used to measure urine protein-to-creatinine ratios (UPCR). Objectives: This study aimed to compare the UPCR obtained by three types of analyzers (automated wet chemistry analyzer, in-house dry chemistry analyzer, and dipstick reading device) and investigate whether the differences could affect clinical decision process. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 115 dogs. UPCR values were obtained using three analyzers. Bland-Altman and Passing Bablok tests were used to analyze agreement between the UPCR values. Urine samples were classified as normal or proteinuria based on the UPCR values obtained by each analyzer and concordance in the classification evaluated with Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: Passing and Bablok regression showed that there were proportional as well as constant difference between UPCR values obtained by a dipstick reading device and those obtained by the other analyzers. The concordance in the classification of proteinuria was very high (κ = 0.82) between the automated wet chemistry analyzer and in-house dry chemistry analyzer, while the dipstick reading device showed moderate concordance with the automated wet chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.52) and in-house dry chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.53). Conclusions: Although the urine dipstick test is simple and a widely used point-of-care test, our results indicate that UPCR values obtained by the dipstick test are not appropriate for clinical use. Inter-instrumental variability may affect clinical decision process based on UPCR values and should be emphasized in veterinary practice.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 1995

In this paper we report the device of a multi-channel clinical instrument developed for determi¬nation of the levels of the urinary urobilinogen, glucose, ketone, bilirubin, protein, ascorbic acid, nitrite, pH, occult-blood, specific gravity, and leukocytes semiquantitatively. The test parameters are expressed on the dry test strips as a range of color intensities by chemical reactions. The instrument measures the value of each substance by reading the reflectance light emanated from the test strips. We also designed the reagent strip cassette and loader in order to intercept the outside interference. The loader can be operated semi-automatically. The light source is consisted on light emitting diodes at three specific wavelengths (560 nm, 610 nm, 650 nm). Precision of the system was evaluated by testing a series of commercial control urine samples. Furthermore, the performance of the instrument was compared with two other test methods on the urine samples from 100 persons. Our results showed a good repeatability between tests and a satisfactory agreement between the readings by our instrument and visual evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 2004

The primary goal of six sigma is to improve patient satisfaction, and thereby profitability, by reducing and eliminating defects. Defects may be related to any aspect of customer satisfaction: high product quality, schedule adherence, cost minimization, process capability indices, defects per unit, and yield. Many six sigma metrics can be mathematically related to the others. Literally, six means six standard deviations from the mean or median value. As applied to quality metrics, the term indicates that failures are at least six standard deviations from the mean or norm. This would mean about 3.4 failures per million opportunities for failure. The objective of six sigma quality is to reduce process output variation so that on a long term basis, which is the customer's aggregate experience with our process over time, this will result in no more than 3.4 defect Parts Per Million(PPM) opportunities (or 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities. For a process with only one specification limit (upper or lower), this results in six process standard deviations between the mean of the process and the customer's specification limit (hence, 6 Sigma). The results of applicative six sigma experiment studied on 18 items TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA tests in clinical chemistry were follows. Assessment of process performance fits within six sigma tolerance limits were TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA with 72.2%, items that fit within five sigma limits were total bilirubin, chloride and sodium were 3 sigma. We were sure that the goal of six sigma would reduce test variation in the process.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.275-279
• /
• 2016

Dengue fever is a vector borne disease caused by a dengue virus. It is an RNA virus of the family flaviviridae, with different serotypes. Herein, we report our attempt to carry out a sensitivity comparison of immunodiagnostic assays for dengue fever in dengue positive patients. Blood samples from 189 volunteers were collected. To determine the sensitivity of the NS1 test, two different types of tests-immunochromatographic tri-line test and rapid dengue test (RDT)-as well as IgM and IgG capture ELISA were performed. The result of RDT has shown that 59.7% of volunteers were IgM positive and 50.2% were IgG positive. Conversely, the results from capture ELISA shows 79.8% and 59.7% for IgM and IgG, respectively. The sensitivity of the capture ELISA test for IgM and IgG was higher than that of immunochromatographic tri-line rapid test, but the specificity was lower. Therefore, to confirm dengue fever, we recommend performing more detailed, investigative tests since a single test may not be sufficient.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Though Korean healthcare services have been upgraded, infection and fire had been broken out in general hospitals. And higher concerns about quality assessment made it to clinical laboratory design guideline studies. So, this study investigates the facilities, equipment and personnel of laboratory medicine focusing on more than five hundred fifty bed hospital, and contributes to make guidelines for safety and efficiency in lab. Methods: Questionnaires to supervisor technologist and field surveys to medical laboratories in korean hospitals have been conducted for the data collection. 16 answers have been analysed statistically by MS Excel program. Results: Most of the sample tests such as hematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, transfusion, urinalysis, microbiology and molecular diagnosis are performed by more than 80% in large sized general hospital laboratory. In the test methods, automatic analyzers are used up to 80%, total laboratory automation up to 43% in clinical chemistry and immunology, and manual tests in all sorts of the test. There are placed in single lab or two and three labs above the ground, which are all in semi-open lab. There is some correlation with the number of specimens and the number of lab people depending on the number of hospital beds. Laboratory environment shows that work distance is good, but evacuation path width, visibility, separation of staff area from automatic analyzer, and equipment installations are needed to have more spaces and gears. Most of the infection controls are equipped with mechanical ventilation, air-conditioning, washbasin and wastewater separation, BSC installation and negative pressure lab room. Implications: Although the laboratory space area is calculated considering the number of hospital beds, type of tests and number of staff, hospital's expertise and the samples numbers per year should be taken into account in the planning of the hospital.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the toxicity and to find the lethal dose of the test substance Water-soluble Carthami-flos pharmacopuncture (WCF) when used as a single intravenous-dose in 6-week-old, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: The experiment was conducted at Biotoxtech according to Good Laboratory Practices. 20 female and 20 male Spague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 female and 5 male animals per group. The rats in the three experimental groups received single intravenous injections with 0.125-mL, 0.25-mL and 0.5-mL/animal doses of WCF, Groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and the control group, Group 1, received a single intravenous injection with a 0.5-mL dose of normal saline. Clinical signs were observed and body weight measurements were carried out for 14 days following the injections. At the end of the observation period, hematology, clinical chemistry, histopathological tests and necropsy were performed on the injected parts. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the groups. Also, no significant changes in body weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry test results between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. Visual inspection after necropsy showed no abnormalities. Histopathological tests on the injected parts showed no significant differences, except for Group 1 females; however, the result was spontaneous generation and had no toxicological meaning because it was not dose-dependent. Therefore, this study showed that WCF had no effect on the injected parts in terms of clinical signs, body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry, and necropsy. Conclusion: As a result of single intravenous-dose tests of the test substance WCF in 4 groups of rats, the lethal dose for both males and females exceeded 0.5 mL/animal. Therefore, WCF is a relatively safe pharmacopuncture that can be used for treatment, but further studies should be performed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 1978

Concanavalin-A, lectin extracted from Korean native plant “Banha”(Pine-llia Termata) and their conjugation products with tyrosine and 5-iodo-6-aminouracil were labelled by radioactive iodiae-125, and these labelled compounds were subjected to a hemagglutination test in vitro. The labelling procedures were presented with respect to labelling yield and the trends on the conjugation reaction of lectin with various amino acids were discussed. The preliminary results on the hemagglutination tests against cancer tissues were presented and the potential clinical applications of these labelled compounds were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.188-193
• /
• 2015

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) testing is a test that precisely assesses cerebrovascular and coronary heart diseases. According to many previous studies, CIMT predicts atherosclerosis and is highly correlated to cardiovascular disease risk factors. It has also been reported that CIMT is an independent predictor of risk factors for myocardial infarction and stroke. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate CIMT and other independent factors through a correlation study with the clinical laboratory test results of a blood test. As a result, this study could not prove the correlation between CIMT and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (TC, TG, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) due to an insufficient number of subjects. Nevertheless, a positive correlation was demonstrated between CIMT and ALT (p<0.05), GGT (p<0.05), Uric acid (p<0.05), and CEA (p<0.05) at a statistically significant level, suggesting a continuation of the study.