Ion Selective Electrodes (ISEs) and interferences--a review.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ion Selective Electrodes (ISEs) are widely used in clinical diagnostics and point-of-care testing.
• ISEs measure critical electrolytes such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and lithium (Li+).
• These measurements are essential for rapid patient care decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of understanding interferences in ISE measurements.
• To emphasize the potential impact of interferences on clinical decisions.
• To inform laboratories about the necessity of accounting for ISE limitations.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on ISE technology and interferences.
• Analysis of common interfering ions and their effects on electrode performance.
• Discussion of analytical challenges in clinical laboratory settings.

Main Results:

• ISEs, despite their selectivity, are susceptible to various interferences.
• Interferences can lead to inaccurate analyte quantification.
• Failure to account for interferences may result in incorrect clinical interpretations.

Conclusions:

• A thorough understanding of ISE interferences is critical for laboratory professionals.
• Mitigating interference effects is essential for ensuring the reliability of diagnostic results.
• Accurate ISE measurements support appropriate medical treatment and patient management.