Serum gentamicin levels: a comparison between the Syva Solaris and the Syva QST analysers

Enzyme-multiplied immunoassay techniques (EMIT) are now widely used as an effective method for monitoring gentamicin concentrations to ensure adequate serum levels. The current EMIT system was to be superseded by an improved version and both were run in parallel over a nine-month period and the results compared. During this time the systems were evaluated for ease of use, and reproducibility of results. The newer, EMIT produced more consistent calibration results with less kit-to-kit variation, which in turn gave more reproducible results both with patients' sera and the monthly NEQAS quality controls. The newer system was put into routine use at the end of the trial.