ABX Pentra 400 stands up to the test

A newly published external evaluation study¹ has concluded that the recently launched HORIBA ABX Pentra 400 clinical chemistry analyzer “provides precise and accurate measurement for a wide variety of analyses including routine chemistry, ISE and specific proteins.”

Furthermore, with its touch-screen monitor and real-time analysis information on a single screen, the study found the new analyser to be very user friendly and observed that “good reliability and practicability make the system suitable for laboratories with various needs.”

Scientists at the Department of Biochemistry, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France, put the ABX Pentra 400 through its paces and also compared it to a number of competitive analyzers. The new system was evaluated over a 6-month period in accordance with the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) and Valtec protocols. A total of 32 of the most common clinical chemistry parameters were evaluated under simulated routine conditions. The analytical performance of the new system and the quality of the ABX Pentra reagent line were both examined and results showed a high correlation between all types of analyzers compared. The analytical performance of the ABX Pentra 400 for colorimetric, immunoturbimetric and ISE assays was within the ranges stated by HORIBA ABX.

With a throughput of 420 tests/hour and ISE results delivered within 60 seconds, the system is suitable for both routine and urgent sample analysis. Further advantages noted by the evaluation study are the rapid daily start-up procedure, automatic ISE calibration and the low level of maintenance required, at just 5 minutes per week. In addition, the ABX Pentra 400 automatically manages and monitors all calibrations, data back-up and reagent expiry dates. The system retains all calibration data and reaction plots for results validation.

The researchers also found the ABX Pentra 400 to be very reliable when low sample volumes are used, making it particularly suitable for pediatric samples. Furthermore, since it is possible to adapt highly specific methodologies, the ABX Pentra 400 allows the transfer from manual methodologies to automated protocols, which is a very useful feature for hospitals. Finally the evaluation concludes that “the system is a multi-parameter analyzer able to perform almost all parameters based on liquid chemistries on a single workstation and is suitable for small to medium-sized laboratories.”