Korean J Lab Med.  2009 Oct;29(5):430-438. 10.3343/kjlm.2009.29.5.430.

Performance Evaluation of the Piccolo xpress Point-of-care Chemistry Analyzer

• Park H
• Ko DH
• Kim JQ
• Song SH

• KMID: 1077419
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2009.29.5.430

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Point-of-care (POC) tests are used increasingly due to fast results and simple test procedures, which enables rapid diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. We evaluated the performance of the Piccolo xpress Chemistry Analyzer (Abaxis, USA) a POC chemistry analyzer.
METHODS
Fourteen analytes, Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, total carbon dioxide, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, albumin, total protein, and glucose; were measured simultaneously with a 100 microliter of whole blood sample using a Comprehensive Metabolic Reagent disk. Within-run and total precision and linearity were evaluated according to CLSI EP15-A and EP6-A guidelines, respectively. Comparison with a central laboratory chemistry analyzer was performed using 144 patient samples.
RESULTS
The coefficients of variations of within-run and total precision were all within 5% for three levels except for total carbon dioxide, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and creatinine in low level, and creatinine in middle level. The results of 14 analytes were linear within a commonly encountered range in clinical samples (r2> or =0.98). More than 10% of samples in Na+, AST, ALT, glucose, BUN did not satisfy CLIA analytical quality requirement.
CONCLUSIONS
The Piccolo xpress Chemistry Analyzer can analyze multiple analytes with a minimal amount of whole blood in a short time. It showed an acceptable performance for precision, linearity and comparison with central laboratory analyzer. It can be useful as a screening tests modality in mobile clinics, ambulances, and field clinics for military use, and for pediatric patients from whom enough sample volume is difficult to obtain.

Keyword

Point-of-care systems; Analytical chemistry; Evaluation studies

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase/blood
Alkaline Phosphatase/blood
Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood
Bilirubin/blood
Blood Chemical Analysis/*instrumentation/methods/*standards
Blood Glucose/analysis
Calcium/blood
Carbon Dioxide/blood
Chlorides/blood
Creatinine/blood
Humans
*Point-of-Care Systems
Potassium/blood
Quality Control
Reproducibility of Results
Serum Albumin/analysis
Sodium/blood

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Measuring sequence of Piccolo xpress Chemistry Analyzer. (A) Blood sample is applied and diluent container is opened. (B) Diluent and blood sample enter the quality control cuvettes and blood sample enters the centrifugal chamber. (C) Centrifuge is performed. (D) Centrifuged sample and diluent are mixed. (E) The assay cuvettes are filled and analysis is performed (This schematic diagram was permitted from Abaxis system).

• 

  Fig. 2. Correlations of 14 analytes of Comprehensive Metabolic Reagent disk between Piccolo xpress Chemistry Analyzer and TBA 200-FR. Dashed line indicates mean bias. Abbreviations: tCO2, total carbon dioxide; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen.

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