| The new PK7300 from Olympus is a fully automated blood grouping analyser for large blood donation centres. The analyser uses the proven system of haemagglutination in patented terraced micro-plates to carry out blood grouping. But to support laboratories in meeting IVDD, GLP and GMP requirements, and establishing SOPs for accreditation, extra features for safety and traceability have been built in to both hardware and software.
For the first time, it is possible to directly store raw data as colour digital images of the agglutination plates. The user can view each agglutination pattern as a single well or microplate overview on screen. The images can be stored on hard drive or DVD, or printed out. Long term storage of the data helps with GLP conformance documentation.
The haemagglutination result is automatically calculated based on the measurement of five different parameters – giving several safety checks on each result.
New user-friendly Windows 2000© software – based on that established with the best selling Olympus series of AU clinical chemistry analysers – includes a graphic user interface, touch screen control, simplified results validation procedures, dedicated quality control software, help functions and modem support. Results editing is password protected. Start up, end wash and shut down are software automated. All these features mean that staff can operate the PK7300 with minimal training, and more time can be spent on analysis.
Two independent probes are used for plasma and red cell pipetting. Clot and bubble detection add extra performance protection. Liquid system pressure sensors monitor both pipetting and dispensing steps. Any pipetting malfunction will be recognized by the system and flagged for the user.
Reproducibility of results has been enhanced with optimisation and control of the reaction conditions. The user can define the reagent and sample mixing step by using an air stream, or with a new plate stirrer, or through a flexible combination of both procedures. Duration and amplitude of the mixing can be adjusted.
Peltier elements maintain incubator temperature anywhere from room temperature up to 40 oC thus eliminating any gradient across the chamber. The humidity of the incubator is also adjustable to ensure stable and consistent reaction conditions.
A new built in barcode reader checks primary tubes using ISBT128 or any other commonly used barcode system. Other barcode readers also read barcoded reagent vials and microplates. This gives clear traceability for test results and eliminates reagent mix-ups.
The new PK7300 is 25% faster than its predecessor, processing 300 samples per hour.
The benefits of automated blood grouping deliver clear cost savings for large scale testing. The micro-dispensing system together with terraced microplate technology means that tests can be carried out with highly diluted antisera according to the instructions for use from reagent manufacturers. This means a greatly reduced cost of reagents – typically less than 1% of the cost for conventional testing. Within a very short period PK7300 users will have recovered their capital investment and have huge cost savings thereafter.
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