The Technicon SMAC system was adapted to function with much smaller volumes of plasma than those used in standard procedures. With only minimal operator-entered changes to the 7·6 computer program, and simple modifications of the glucose and alkaline phosphatase channels, the SMAC analyser performed equally well when the plasma volume was decreased from 235 μl sequentially down through 176 μl, 142 μl, and 105 μl. The basic principle employed was to maintain a constant flow rate of diluted sample plus diluent with decreasing sample size. The instrument proved to have the capability of operating successfully on all channels with lower signals than those encountered with the unmodified system.
References
1.
O'LearyNDugganPF.Some improvements in the operation of the Technicon SMAC system. Clin Chem1980; 26: 793.
2.
PinnellAENorthamBE.New automated dye-binding method for serum albumin determination with bromocresol purple. Clin Chem1978; 24: 80–86.
3.
RoschlauPBerntEGrieberW.Enzymatic determinations of total cholesterol in serum. Abstracts 9th International Congress on Clinical Chemistry, Toronto, Canada, 1975 Abst. No. 1.
4.
McCombRBBowersGNJr.Study of optimum buffer conditions for measuring alkaline phosphatase activity in human serum. Clin Chem1972; 18: 97–104.
5.
StamperRRobertshawDM.Decreasing sample volume used in the “Sequential Multichannel Analyzer Computerized” (SMAC) Clin Chem1980; 26: 778–80.
