Adaptation of EMIT drug assays to a random-access automated clinical analyzer

Enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) assays for theophylline, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid, acetaminophen, gentamicin and tobramycin, have been adapted to the Technicon RA-1000 random access analyzer. Working reagents are stable for a period of at least one week, and calibration need only be performed when preparing fresh reagents. Between-day precision ranged from 2.2 to 5.5 percent and correlations with similar EMIT assays performed on a centrifugal analyzer were satisfactory. Excellent results were obtained on proficiency testing samples when analyzed for theophylline, phenobarbital, phenytoin and acetaminophen. The procedures have been adapted to emergency testing of these four drugs.