Evaluation of the Dacos 3.0 analyser

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Laboratory Instrumentation

Background:

• The evaluation of automated clinical laboratory analyzers is crucial for ensuring reliable diagnostic testing.
• Standardized guidelines from organizations like the European Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (ECCLS) are essential for performance assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate the analytical performance and practicability of the selective multitest Coulter Dacos 3.0 analyser.
• To assess the analyzer's accuracy, imprecision, linearity, drift, and susceptibility to interferences.

Main Methods:

• Photometric evaluation at 340 nm and 420 nm, including inaccuracy and imprecision assessments.
• Routine working evaluation of seven analytical methods (glucose, creatinine, iron, total protein, AST, ALP, calcium) for within-run and between-run imprecision.
• Study of sample and reagent carry-over, and assessment of interferences from turbidity and hemolysis.

Main Results:

• Acceptable inaccuracy and low imprecision (0.06-0.28%) in photometric measurements.
• Satisfactory imprecision for pipette delivery, temperature control, and washing systems.
• Within-run imprecision ranged from 0.6% to 7.6% (CV), and between-run imprecision from 1.2% to 15.1% (CV) across various analytes and concentrations.
• No sample carry-over detected; minor reagent carry-over observed for total protein.
• Weak interference from turbidity for LDH and urate; negative interference from hemolysis for gamma-GT, amylase, bilirubin, and ALP.

Conclusions:

• The Coulter Dacos 3.0 analyser exhibits good overall analytical performance for routine clinical chemistry assays.
• Minor interferences and reagent carry-over require consideration but do not significantly compromise the analyzer's utility.
• The analyzer is deemed suitable for routine laboratory use based on its performance characteristics.