Multicentre evaluation of the blood gas-electrolyte-analyser "BGE"

A multicentre evaluation of the blood gas-electrolyte-haematocrit-analyser BGE (Fa. Instrumentation Laboratory), following as far as possible the ECCLS guidelines for multicentre evaluation of blood gas analysers, was performed by three laboratories. The rules of the evaluation protocol were extended to the electrolyte and haematocrit determinations. The BGE proved to be easy to operate and maintain. The stability of the measuring system was good. The within-run imprecision of all electrodes was excellent. The same applies to the between-day imprecision, except for the calcium measurements. The systematic deviation of the gas electrodes was very small. Comparison studies revealed clinically significant deviations only for ionized calcium. Some suggestions for further improvements are made.