title: Evaluation of AVL988/4 analyzer for measurement of ionized magnesium and ionized calcium.
abstract: Ionized magnesium (Mg++) and ionized calcium (Ca++) are the physiologically active forms of these elements in the body and their concentrations have clinical value. Though the AVL988/4 instrument that measures concentrations of Mg++ and Ca++ has been evaluated, some clinically important parameters were unknown. In this study, we evaluated AVL988/4 analyzer for measuring Mg++ and Ca++ concentrations and provided the following information: (1) The newly formulated Becton Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer plastic tubes with clot activator and silicone as the stopper lubricant (serial no. 367820) caused a significant high bias for the Mg++ measurement but had no effect on the Ca++ measurement; (2) the optimal conditions for specimen storage were no exposure to air at 4 degrees C for up to 24 h; (3) no significant difference in the results of the Ca++ concentration determined using AVL988/4 or i-STAT; (4) no carryover between samples was found.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tongate
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Elin
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D004355:Drug Stability; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D011786:Quality Control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium