Automated homogeneous immunoassay for gentamicin on the dimension clinical chemistry system.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of the concentration of gentamicin in serum and plasma during therapy is widely recommended and practiced in hospitals. Our aim was to develop a homogeneous immunoassay based on particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay technology to quantify gentamicin on the Dimension clinical chemistry system. METHODS: Assay performance was assessed on each of the Dimension models in a 15-instrument interlaboratory comparison study. A split-sample comparison (n = 1171) was also performed between the gentamicin methods on the Dimension system and the Abbott TDx analyzer, using multiple reagent and calibrator lots on multiple instruments. RESULTS: The Dimension method was linear to 25.1 micromol/L (12.0 microg/mL) with a detection limit of 0.63 micromol/L (0.3 microg/mL). Calibration was stable for 30 days. The within-run imprecision (CV) was <1.3%, and total imprecision ranged from 1.8% to 3.2% between 4.2 micromol/L (2.0 microg/mL) and 16.7 micromol/L (8.0 microg/mL) gentamicin. Linear regression analysis of the results on the Dimension method (DM) vs the Abbott TDx yielded the following equation: DM = 0.98TDx - 0.42; r = 0.987. Minimal interference was observed from structurally related compounds such as sagamicin, netilmicin, and sisomicin. CONCLUSION: The monoclonal antibody used in this method has similar reactivities toward the individual gentamicin subspecies C1, C1a, and C2, thus providing analytical recovery not significantly dependent on relative subspecies concentrations.

Development and analytical performance of an automated screening method for cannabinoids on the Dimension clinical chemistry system.

A fully automated, random access method for the determination of cannabinoids (UTHC) was developed for the Dimension AR and XL clinical chemistry systems. The method utilizes Abuscreen ONLINE reagents and a multianalyte liquid calibrator containing 11-nor-Delta(9)-THC-9-carboxylic acid. Within-run and total reproducibility, determined using NCCLS protocol EP5- T2, was less than 0.6% and 1.6% CV, respectively, at all concentrations. Calibration stability was retained for at least 30 days. An extensive evaluation of non-structurally related drugs and various physiological substances indicated lack of interference in the method. No sample carry-over was observed following a specimen containing 1886 ng/ml 11-nor-Delta(9)-THC-9-carboxylic acid. A 99.1% agreement (N = 445 samples) was found between an EMIT based method on the aca discrete clinical analyser and the Dimension UTHC method.Dimension clinical chemistry system and aca discrete clinical analyser are registered trademarks of Dade International.

Sensitive, colorimetric enzyme amplification cascade for determination of alkaline phosphatase and application of the method to an immunoassay of thyrotropin.

A highly sensitive flavin adenine dinucleotide-3'-phosphate (FADP)-based enzyme amplification cascade has been developed for determining alkaline phosphatase (ALP; EC 3.1.3.1). The cascade detects ALP via the dephosphorylation of the novel substrate FADP to produce the cofactor FAD, which binds stoichiometrically to inactive apo D-amino acid oxidase (D-AAO). The resulting active holo D-AAO oxidizes D-proline to produce hydrogen peroxide, which is quantified by the horseradish peroxidase-mediated conversion of 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid and 4-aminoantipyrine to a colored product. The FADP-based enzyme amplification cascade has been used in a novel releasable linker immunoassay (RELIA) to quantify thyrotropin (TSH). In the assay, TSH is first captured onto antibody-coated chromium dioxide particles. After formation of an antibody-TSH sandwich with a dethiobiotinylated second antibody, the complex is reacted with a streptavidin-ALP conjugate. Biotin is then used to release the conjugate into solution, and ALP is quantified in an automated version of the FADP-based amplification cascade on the aca discrete clinical analyzer (Du Pont). The sensitivity of the colorimetric RELIA assay for TSH (less than 0.1 milli-int. unit/L) is comparable with that of fluorometric assays. This technology provides a way to adapt to the aca high-sensitivity immunoassays for a wide range of analytes via colorimetric detection.

Use of MagniSep chromium dioxide particles in an immunoassay system.

The use of chromium dioxide particles as a solid support for very sensitive and rapid immunoassays, is the result of the combination of large surface area (40 m2) and high protein uptake capacity (40 mg/g) allowing rapid capture kinetics and high binding capacity. Magnetic and physical properties of these particles give a rapid separation, a complete resuspension and a rapid high-efficiency washing, highly desirable characteristics for efficient automation of immunoassays. Good precision and accuracy, exemplified by excellent recovery, parallelism and correlation were demonstrated. Test results prove that the technology is highly flexible and applicable to a variety of assay formats.

Development and characterization of an automated assay of effective heparin activity in plasma.

We describe a fully automated assay for determining effective heparin activity in plasma, based on heparin-catalyzed inhibition of Factor Xa (EC 3.4.21.6) by antithrombin III (AT III). Residual Factor Xa is determined kinetically by the Du Pont aca discrete clinical analyzer with a chromogenic substrate and is inversely related to heparin activity. Because the test plasma is the sole source of AT III, the assay result is dependent on AT III activity and reflects effective rather than total heparin activity. The assay range is 20-1200 USP units/L, and the assay shows equivalent sensitivity to standard and low-molecular-mass heparins. Within-run reproducibility (CV) is 1.6% at 390 units/L. There was no interference from common blood components or drugs. Results agreed well with those by the Coatest heparin kit (Kabi) adapted to the Cobas-Bio analyzer (r = 0.85, n = 122).

Quantification of urinary oxalate with oxalate oxidase from beet stems.

We describe an automated (ABA-100) enzymic method for determination of urinary oxalate by use of oxalate oxidase (EC 1.2.3.4) isolated from beet stems. The H2O2 produced by the oxidation of oxalate by oxalate oxidase is measured by coupling with oxidation and conjugation of 3-methyl-3-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N,N-dimethylaniline with catalysis by horseradish peroxidase. The resulting indamine dye is measured spectrophotometrically by the difference in absorption at 500 and 600 nm. Interfering substances are removed by oxidation with acidic ferric chloride and by cation-exchange chromatography. The assay is sensitive to 5 mg of urinary oxalate per liter, the standard curve is linear to 70 mg/L, and the procedure requires less than 3 h for completion. The within-run CV was less than 1.6%, the between-day CV less than 5.6%. The oxalate oxidase method results in a mean and reference interval for oxalate excretion that are comparable with those by isotope dilution, gas-chromatographic, colorimetric, and other enzymic procedures.

The increase in calcium binding of cardiac plasma membrane lipoprotein caused by general anesthetics and alcohol.

(1) Ca2+-binding lipoprotein was purified from dog heart plasma membrane and the effect of several general anesthetics, ethanol, and acetaldehyde on the Ca2+ binding was studied. (2) These drugs, which are known to cause myocardial depression increased the Ca2+ binding at clinically useful concentrations. (3) These results raise the possibility that these drugs, by increasing the Ca2+ binding to the plasma membrane, limit the availability of superficially located Ca2+ for excitation-contraction coupling and result in depression of myocardial contractile force.