subject: Using Chemistry Analyzers In Research And Clinical Applications [print this page] Chemistry analyzers are automated scientific devices which are used in clinical and research laboratories all over the world to analyse the characteristics of carbohydrates, electrolytes, enzymes, antibodies or proteins in blood, calcium, urine, serum or plasma. The first such machine, called the Robot Chemist, was commercially introduced in 1959 by inventor Hans Baruch.
That first analyser was about the size of a desk and seen to be too large for general acceptance. A redesign was launched in 1963 which was resized it to fit on a desk-top and that was much more popular. This second machine also introduced the first commercial precipitation-filtration unit, capable of producing blood free of the proteins that would otherwise mask some blood components.
This first step towards the automation of sample analysis heralded a whole new range of medical and research analysers and today they are found in both industry and clinical environments.
Biochemistry Analysers - the automation of sample testing speeds up the process and reduces the opportunity for human error. However important sample analysis is, when it is done manually it is a repetitive and mundane task that leads to boredom and distraction. Automating the job produces results that are more reliable, that are quicker to prepare and in larger quantities than could be produced in the same time by lab technicians.
A biochemistry analyzer which would be a standard piece of equipment in any hospital or clinical laboratory tests samples for the presence or absence of tell tale chemicals, ions or enzymes in blood or bodily fluids.
Some infectious diseases such as HIV and Lyme Disease are detected by running immunoassays via biochemistry analyzers to search for antigens and recently specific blood analysing devices have been designed to automate the study of antigens-antibodies in the blood.
There are chemistry analyzers available which test for very specific things. A example is the combined glucose/lactate analyser which is currently on the market that can test for both glucose or lactates in the blood or can be set to test for one or the other. This machine is marketed for diabetes and endocrinology research labs, paediatrics and neonatology, pharmaceutical quality assurance and veterinary labs. There are also hand held analysers available which test for only glucose or only lactate. These would be of interest to diabetics and athletes/athletic trainer respectively.
Like other medical laboratory equipment, chemistry analysers come in different sizes depending on the volumes of samples to be tested. When looking to purchase a chemistry analyser though should be given to both current and future throughput and the level of automation required.
Another consideration is the size of the test menu offered, that is, how many different chemical tests is the machine calibrated to operate. Some machines might be set up for 80 different blood or bodily fluid analysis tests while others can test for 1000. While the more comprehensive machine would no doubt be a great asset in a large hospital or clinical lad, it would most likely be too much for a physician's office or small lab.
