Choosing the best dry chemistry analyzer for your facility: the FUJI DRI-CHEM (FDC) technology
Clinical chemistry is an essential part of healthcare diagnosis, providing insight into a patient’s physiological health status. However, this information needs to be as fast as they are accurate to ensure that healthcare professionals provide quality care when it matters the most. FUJI DRI-CHEM (FDC) by Fujifilm has been designed to match the wet chemistry clinical procedure in providing accurate results with fast turn-around time and a drop of blood applied on a small slide. Fujifilm continues to improve its technology to provide the best dry chemistry analyzer for healthcare facilities.
The FUJI DRI-CHEM uses plasma obtained by centrifuging whole blood samples or serum obtained after centrifuging coagulated whole blood in clinical chemistry tests. In blood glucose tests, a glycolysis inhibitor is used along with anticoagulants to prepare the blood sample. FDC can be used in general chemistry, enzyme testing, immunology, and electrolytes.
FUJI DRI-CHEM provides a simplified test system that measures substances with a drop of specimen on a small slide containing dry reagents. This eliminates the complex use of water from the testing process and is ideal for obtaining immediate results in emergencies and facilities challenged with a shortage in the availability of clean water. There is no need for pre-measurement preparations and post-measurement cleaning, and no substances or chemicals to dispose of. The slide reagents are packaged individually for each single use and are stable when stored (fluid reagents are also stable when stored properly), leading to low reagent wastage. The small sample size requirement of the FUJI DRI-CHEM system makes it suitable for use in the care of newborns, elderly, and severely injured persons.
The FDC system involves 3 simple steps:
• Setting the slide and pipette tip
• Setting the sample
• Pressing the start button
FDC Handling Procedure:
• Turn the power button ON
• Prepare and replace Fuji Auto Tips and reference solution
• Prepare slide of items to be measured
• Measure
• Empty waste box
• Turn the power button OFF
This procedure takes an average of 15 – 20 minutes to run through.
There are 2 types of FDC slides including the colorimetric method slide and the potentiometric method slide. The colorimetric slides are used in enzymes, general chemistry, and immunology testing while the potentiometric slides are used for electrolyte testing.
For the colorimetric method slide, the machine automatically applies the sample to a slide resulting in a reaction between the sample components and the reagent which then forms a pigment that allows the machine to measure the concentration of chromophore corresponding to the amount of component. Each slide is made up of multilayers of successive functional materials. These slides use the end-point test method for general chemistry and the rate method for enzyme and immunology testing. Colorimetric slides produce results within 1 minute.
The potentiometric method slides measure the electrolytes in the sample. The sample and reference electrolyte with a fixed concentration of electrolytes, are automatically applied to potentiometric slides. The concentrations of the electrolytes are measured by the change in potential between two electrodes. Each slide contains 3 types of film electrodes (Na, K, Cl) which can be measured simultaneously within 1 minute.
The FUJI DRI-CHEM system comes with a magnetic memory card (QC card) that contains the correction coefficients enabling each lot to be corrected to the measured values of a standardized lot. The scientist does not need to calibrate the lots manually when using slides from different lots; all that is required is to insert the QC card into the analyser beforehand and the calibration is performed automatically. FDC uses automated measurement to provide simplicity and speed when using a Fujifilm device. This process is also more accurate than manual procedures and minimizes the risk of infection by pathogens caused by contact with samples. Additionally, the scientist can set the process and walk away to perform other operations.
DRI-CHEM NX600 Automated Clinical Chemistry Analyzer
Over the years, Fujifilm has continued to improve its technology in clinical chemistry by making its analyzers easier to use and compact. Analyzers like the DRI-CHEM NX600 series have been designed to fit in places like outpatient clinics, hospital laboratories, and medical laboratories. The NX600 analyzers offer large, easy-to-operate touch panels with fast response time, intuitive and simple operation, and improved workflow for setting consumables with the Consumable Disk. It also offers a high throughput of 128 tests per hour. After measurement, the slide reagents are automatically discarded to the disposal box thereby minimizing the risk of contamination or biological hazard.
Facilities may opt for the Barcode Reader and the Operator ID Editor Kit. The Barcode reader enables the scientist to read the sample ID on the sample tube and the Operator ID allows the facility to register and edit operator ID on a PC and import them into the analyser.