title: Robotic chromatography: development and evaluation of automated instrumentation for assay of glycohemoglobin.
abstract: The measurement of glycohemoglobin (GHb) by boronate affinity chromatography is useful in monitoring long-term glucose control in diabetic subjects. The inherent disadvantage of this method is the hands-on time required because the hemoglobin fractions are separated on individual disposable columns. To overcome this disadvantage, we have programmed a Hamilton Microlab 2200 automated pipetting cartesian robot to complete the procedure, from the aspiration of blood from the sample-collection tube to the transfer of the separated hemoglobin fractions to a microtiter plate for absorbance measurement. This automated robotic system can analyze 96 specimens, including patients' samples and control material, in approximately 3 h. The precision (CV) of the method ranged from 1.6% to 3.5% within-run and from 2.7% to 3.5% day-to-day. The results correlated with those obtained with the Accuflex semiautomated robot, which used the identical disposable column, and those obtained with a Primus high-performance liquid chromatograph, which used a regenerated microparticle column. Automation of the GHb procedure allowed improved throughput, reduced labor cost, improved precision, and offered greater laboratory safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health Science Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andree
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Felder
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D012371:Robotics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin