The Ultimate Guide to Biochemistry Analyzer

In this technologically-advanced environment, everything is transforming and moving towards modernization, or you can say automation. Indeed, the entire medical equipment industry is experiencing a huge shift due to the emergence of new automated technological devices.

What is a biochemistry analyzer?

One of the most popular and advanced devices is biochemistry analyzer. You might have heard about it, it is a device that is designed to perform tests on a wide range of elements from blood, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid to urine as sample. Means, it helps to analyze, study and evaluate the characteristics of various samples. In other words, it has the ability to address a wide range of medical industry challenges.

Applications

Commonly used in science labs and medical settings, this device helps doctors to diagnose the problem and identify critical issues (cell related issues and diseases). Scientists also use this device to identify the structure as well as function of bio-molecules, such as nucleic acids, lipids, enzymes, etc. In simple terms, the device is ideal for performing critical tasks in an efficient and safe manner.

Besides that, it is also helpful in advancing medical research, drug investigations, diagnostic and product development approaches. Means, these fully featured devices have become the backbone of the entire medical and pharmaceutical industry. In a nutshell, such devices simply meet the needs of physicians, lab professionals as well as patients.

Why choose biochemistry analyzers?

ㆍSignificantly reduces repetitive tasks

ㆍHandles loading, tube cleaning, mechanical control, and data processing

ㆍEasy to operate (easy insertion of samples and automated programs)

ㆍSpeed up complex analysis

ㆍHelps to streamlining daily laboratory activities

ㆍTo enable early detection as well as diagnosis of disease

ㆍComply with safety standards of the healthcare industry

ㆍProvides a report as soon as possible (means, it provides the best quality of diagnostic information).

Benefits of biochemistry analyzers

ㆍTimely and accurate analysis of samples

ㆍImproves the level of medical industry

ㆍOptimizes time-consuming testing and analytical processes

ㆍProvides reliable diagnostic information

ㆍFosters product innovation

ㆍImproves wellness and patient care

ㆍHelps to understand biological processes as well as other chemical reactions

ㆍIncreases the efficiency of medical facilities, test centers and diagnostic centers (small, medium-sized and large)

ㆍHelps to perform different types of tests at the most economical rates

ㆍEnables labs to perform fast and quality testing

ㆍHelps in the optimization of cell examinations and other such studies

ㆍCapable enough to analyze multiple samples efficiently

Here are a few uses of biochemistry analyzers

ㆍHigh precision biochemistry analyzers are also used in pharmaceutical industries to diagnose fatal diseases.

ㆍHelpful in determining diverse functions of biomolecules within the cells.

ㆍIt assists the medical industry by helping in diagnosing and treating diseases.

ㆍOne of the best things is that people can pick from a wide array of biochemistry analyzer systems/devices as per their sample analysis and diagnostics needs. Today, it is easy to purchase such medical equipment from online platforms such as PrimedeQ that are designed for medical equipment and related services. Undeniably, biochemistry analyzer is truly a beneficial and rewarding device and boon for the whole medical industry.

What types of measurement technology do biochemistry analyzers use?

There are several analytical methods of measurement. They can be divided into two categories:

ㆍOptical techniques:

ㆍColorimetry: This is the most common method. The sample is mixed with the appropriate reagent to produce a reaction that results in a color. The concentration of the analyte determines the intensity of the color obtained.

ㆍPhotometry: A light source is projected onto the sample with an appropriate wavelength while a photodetector, placed on the other side of the sample, measures the amount of light absorbed. This is directly correlated to the concentration of the analyte in the sample. There are several principles here: absorbance (the ability of a medium to absorb light), turbidimetry (measurement of the cloudiness produced by substances suspended in a liquid medium), fluorescence (light emitted by a substance that absorbs light at one wavelength and emits light at another wavelength).

ㆍElectrochemical techniques:

ㆍDirect potentiometry: The use of ion-selective electrodes (ISE) is widespread and mainly used for assaying ions in samples. This method is used to measure ions such as Na+, K+, CI- and Li+. ISEs are sensors capable of determining the concentration of ions in a solution by measuring the current flow through an ion-selective membrane.

ㆍIndirect potentiometry: This method also uses ion-selective electrodes. It allows high throughput and is most commonly used in centralized laboratories. It requires prior dilution, unlike direct potentiometry, and the results are expressed in molarity.

What criteria are used to assess the performance of a biochemistry analyzer?

Several criteria can be used to evaluate the performance of the device:

ㆍOperation method: The biochemistry analyzer can be automatic or semi-automatic. In the case of fully automatic analyzers, samples and reagents are prepared ahead of time and then placed in the device that will manage and analyze them from A to Z. It is possible to set up the test chain and adjust the rate. Fully automatic analyzers are more suitable for medium to large laboratories that need to analyze large quantities of samples.

Semi-automatic devices on the other hand are designed more for smaller laboratories or medical practices that handle lower volumes of samples. In these cases, the analyzer must set up each test individually and therefore the test rate is slower and not automated.

ㆍRate: This is the number of samples analyzed per hour. The rate is greatly improved with the use of ion-selective electrodes (see question on the types of measurement technology used by a biochemistry analyzer).

Random access mode: This offers a high degree of flexibility, particularly for laboratories and hospitals with a medium to high level of activity. They face ever-increasing constraints and must reduce processing time while increasing productivity. With random access, it becomes possible to load samples randomly and continuously and obtain results, patient by patient, as quickly as possible. This allows the rate to reach interesting figures such as 800 photometric tests per hour.

How are reagents and samples managed?

This will be determined by the capacity of the analyzer. A semi-automatic analyzer analyzes only one sample at a time. On the other hand, an automatic device is built differently, has two tanks and includes:

ㆍA rack where the reagents are placed. They vary according to the type of sample and assay to be performed.

ㆍA rack where the samples to be analyzed are placed. These vary according to the diagnosis to be made (medical specialty): blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.

ㆍAn automated arm will pipette reagent from a tube into a sample tube with the desired dose for analysis.

One of the important points to consider is the volume of reagents and samples that the analyzer will need to perform a test. This can have an impact on the operating cost. A device that requires large quantities of reagents will be more expensive in the long term.

Systems with random access mode (see question on the performance of a biochemistry analyzer) have a more flexible sample management mode and save time, while reducing the risk of human errors due to manual handling. A barcode tube system allows the device to manage the tests fully, efficiently and reliably.

What options are available for a biochemistry analyzer?

Some models offer a wider range of types of analysis than traditional analyzers. They can be used for specialties such as immunology, endocrinology, toxicology and oncology. There are models on the market that can carry out up to 100 types of analysis. To optimize workflow, there are also systems that process clinical chemistry and immunoassay  samples at the same time. This eliminates, among other things, the need to handle samples between modules.

Additionally, some biochemistry analyzers have a wireless connection to ensure better sharing of patient data, especially for laboratories with an LIS (Laboratory Information System).

Welcome to LOCMEDT

Founded at 2018, with numbers of honors and independent intellectual property rights, LOCMEDT specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing IVD (In Vitro Diagnostic) devices and reagents based on micro-fluidic technology.

We have GMP standard workshop and multiple production lines. A group of vibrant, excellent professionals from biomedical, chemical and micro-fluidic technology field converged at LOCMEDT, have developed multiple automatic biochemical analyzers and reagent discs that covers the analysis of biochemistry, blood gas, electrolyte and immune items, providing more convenient and reliable diagnostic solutions and service for in vitro diagnostic industry. If you are interested in our products, please contact us now!