Using Fyrite to monitor incubator carbon dioxide levels.
OBJECTIVE
The Fyrite analyzer (Bacharach, Incorporated) was evaluated to ascertain whether it would perform within the range specified by the manufacturer (+/- 0.5%). Fyrite analyzer samples were compared to control samples obtained using an infrared CO2 monitor (Ohmeda, Model Number 5200).


METHODS
Ten Fyrite analyzer measurements from each of three incubators were obtained using two different analyzers by three investigators for a total of 60 measurements per investigator. Twenty control measurements for each of the three incubators were obtained using an infrared monitor calibrated at the 5.0% CO2 level.


RESULTS
Fyrite analyzer values fell outside of an acceptable range (Control mean CO2 +/- 0.5%) for 7 of 60 (11.7%) observations for Incubator 1 and 4 of 60 (6.7%) observations for Incubator 2. (Incubator 3 had no values outside the range.) The Fyrite analyzers were significantly different from each other (P = 0.002). The three investigators (I) differed significantly from the control (I1 and I3, P < 0.001; I2, P = 0.02) as well as from each other (I1 vs I2, P < 0.001; I1 vs I3, P < 0.001; I2 vs I3, P < 0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of an infrared monitor for incubator calibration and monthly CO2 checks in concert with daily use of the Fyrite as a monitoring tool only is the better method.
Johnson
J E
JE
Greenville Hospital System, Reproductive Endocrinology Associates, South Carolina 29603, USA.
Boone
W R
WR
Lee
S T
ST
Blackhurst
D W
DW
D002138:Calibration; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards*; D007185:Incubators; D007259:Infrared Rays; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D002245:Carbon Dioxide