An evaluation of the "cloud" LINEAR KGT-3/4 buffer-whole tonometer

During an 18-month period, we evaluated the LINEAR KGT 3/4 'cloud' tonometer and found the reproducibility of results in replicate assays to be excellent, with a narrow range of standard deviations. Equilibrium efficiency high, and temperature stability and pH re-equilibration were excellent. Whole-blood tonometry involved minimum exposure to the technologist and could be satisfactorily accomplished from a single blood pool for at least 22 hours. Consumption of calibration gases was low (less than 4 ml/min per level), operator time minimal, and cost per assay for aqueous-buffer samples estimated to be about $0.08.