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ABL90 FLEX blood gas analyser
Short turnaround time for immediate diagnosis and treatment
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35 seconds time to result
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Automatic sample mixing
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AQM automatic quality management
When time is of the essence, turn to the ABL90 FLEX blood gas analyser. Designed specifically for demanding hospital wards like the ICU, the NICU and the ED, the ABL90 FLEX analyser is quickly ready for the next sample.
In just 35 seconds, our cassette-based ABL90 FLEX analyser can deliver 17 parameters from a sample as small as 65 μL. Ensure standardised mixing of your blood samples using safePICO syringes and the built-in sample mixer on the ABL90 FLEX analyser.
Compliance is straightforward when you work with an ABL90 FLEX analyser. Automatic quality control with dedicated QC solutions comes built-in to the analyser which also runs continuous system analysis checks, and takes automated corrective actions when necessary.
*) In the USA, bilirubin can only be measured on neonatal samples
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Parameters measured
Potential of hydrogen
The degree of acidity or alkalinity of any liquid (including blood) is a function of its hydrogen ion concentration [H+], and pH is simply a way of expressing hydrogen ion activity. The relationship between pH and hydrogen ion concentration is described thus:
pH = -log aH+
where aH+ is hydrogen ion activity.
Low pH is associated with acidosis and high pH with alkalosis [1].
1. CLSI. Blood gas and pH analysis and related measurements; Approved Guidelines. CLSI document CA46-A2, 29, 8. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 940 West Valley Road, Suite 1400, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087-1898 USA, 2009.
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an acidic gas; the amount of CO2 in blood is largely controlled by the rate and depth of breathing or ventilation. pCO2 is the partial pressure of CO2 in blood. It is a measure of the pressure exerted by that small portion (~5 %) of total CO2 that remains in the gaseous state, dissolved in the blood plasma. pCO2 is the respiratory component of acid-base balance and reflects the adequacy of pulmonary ventilation. The severity of ventilator failure as well as the chronicity can be judged by the accompanying changes in acid-base status [1].
1. Higgins C. Parameters that reflect the carbon dioxide content of blood. www.acutecaretesting.org Oct 2008.
Partial pressure of oxygen
The amount of oxygen in blood is controlled by many variables, e.g. ventilation/perfusion. pO2 is the partial pressure of oxygen in a gas phase in equilibrium with the blood. pO2 only reflects a small fraction (1 – 2 %) of total oxygen in blood that is dissolved in blood plasma [1]. The remaining 98 – 99 % of oxygen present in blood is bound to the hemoglobin in the erythrocytes. pO2 primarily reflects the oxygen uptake in the lungs.
1. Wettstein R, Wilkins R. Interpretation of blood gases. In: Clinical assessment in respiratory care, 6th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2010.
Glucose
Glucose, the most abundant carbohydrate in human metabolism, serves as the major intracellular energy source (see lactate). Glucose is derived principally from dietary carbohydrate, but it is also produced – primarily in the liver and kidneys – via the anabolic process of gluconeogenesis, and from the breakdown of glycogen (glycogenolysis). This endogenously produced glucose helps keep blood glucose concentration within normal limits, when dietary-derived glucose is not available, e.g. between meals or during periods of starvation.
Lactate
Lactate, the anion that results from dissociation of lactic acid, is an intracellular metabolite of glucose. It is produced by skeletal muscle cells, red blood cells (erythrocytes), the brain, and other tissues during anaerobic energy production (glycolysis). Lactate is formed in the intracellular fluid from pyruvate; the reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) [1].
1. Robergs RA, Ghiasvand F, Parker D. Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2004; 287: R502-16.
Calcium
The calcium ion (Ca2+) is one of the most prevalent cations in the body, where approximately 1 % is present in the extracellular fluid of blood. Ca2+ plays a vital role for bone mineralization and many cellular processes, e.g. contractility of the heart and the skeletal musculature, neuromuscular transmission, hormone secretion and action in various enzymatic reactions such as, e.g. blood coagulation.
Chloride
Chloride (Cl-) is the major anion in the extracellular fluid and one of the most important anions in blood. The main function of Cl- is to maintain osmotic pressure, fluid balance, muscular activity, ionic neutrality in plasma, and help elucidate the cause of acid-base disturbances.
Potassium
Potassium (K+) is the major cation in the intracellular fluid, where it has a 25 - 37-fold higher concentration (∼150 mmol/L in tissue cells, ∼105 mmol/L in erythrocytes) than in the extracellular fluid (∼4 mmol/L) [1, 2]. K+ has several vital functions in the body, e.g. regulation of neuromuscular excitability, regulation of heart rhythm, regulation of intracellular and extracellular volume and acid-base status.
1. Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE. Tietz textbook of clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics. 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 2012. Engquist A. Fluids/Electrolytes/Nutrition. 1st ed. Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1985.
2. Engquist A. Fluids/Electrolytes/Nutrition. 1st ed. Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1985.
Sodium
Sodium (Na+) is the dominant cation in the extracellular fluid, where it has a 14-fold higher concentration (∼140 mmol/L) than in the intracellular fluid (∼10 mmol/L). Na+ is a major contributor of the osmolality of the extracellular fluid and its main function is largely in controlling and regulating water balance, and maintaining blood pressure. Na+ is also important for transmitting nerve impulses and activating muscle concretion.
Carboxyhemoglobin
FMetHb is the fraction of total hemoglobin (ctHb) that is present as methemoglobin (MetHb). By convention the fraction is expressed as a percentage (%).
In the range of 0 – 60 % COHb in arterial (COHb(a)) and venous blood (COHb(v)) is similar, i.e. either venous or arterial blood may be analyzed [1]. In most medical texts FCOHb(a) is referred to as simply COHb.
1. Lopez DM, Weingarten-Arams JS, Singer LP, Conway EE Jr. Relationship between arterial, mixed venous and internal jugular carboxyhemoglobin concentrations at low, medium and high concentrations in a piglet model of carbon monoxide toxicity. Crit Care Med 2000; 28: 1998-2001.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is the yellow breakdown product of the degradation of the heme group of hemoglobin. It is transported in blood from its site of production – the reticuloendothelial system – to the liver, where it is biotransformed before excretion in bile. Jaundice, the pathological yellow discoloration of skin, is due to abnormal accumulation of bilirubin in the tissues, and is always associated with elevated blood concentration of bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia).
Total hemoglobin
The concentration of total hemoglobin (ctHb) in blood includes oxyhemoglobin (cO2Hb), deoxyhemoglobin (cHHb), as well as the dysfunctional hemoglobin species that are incapable of binding oxygen:
carboxyhemoglobin (cCOHb) (see COHb), methemoglobin (cMetHb) (see MetHb) and sulfhemoglobin (cSulfHb).
Thus:
ctHb = cO2Hb + cHHb + cCOHb + cMetHb + cSulfHb
The rare sulfHb is not included in the reported c tHb in most oximeters.
Fraction of deoxyhemoglobin
FHHb in total hemoglobin in blood.
Methemoglobin
FMetHb is the fraction of total hemoglobin (ctHb) that is present as methemoglobin (MetHb). By convention the fraction is expressed as a percentage (%) [1].
In most medical text boxes MetHb(a) is referred to as simply methemoglobin (MetHb).
1. CLSI. Blood gas and pH analysis and related measurements; Approved Guidelines. CLSI document CA46-A2, 29, 8. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 940 West Valley Road, Suite 1400, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087-1898 USA, 2009.
Oxygen saturation
Oxygen saturation (sO2) is the ratio of oxyhemoglobin concentration to concentration of functional hemoglobin (i.e. oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) capable of carrying oxygen [1].
The sO2 reflects utilization of the currently available oxygen transport capacity.
In arterial blood 98 – 99 % of oxygen is transported in erythrocytes bound to hemoglobin. The remaining 1–2 % of the oxygen transported in blood is dissolved in the blood plasma – this is the portion reported as partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) [2].
1. CLSI. Blood gas and pH analysis and related measurements; Approved Guidelines. CLSI document CA46-A2, 29, 8. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 940 West Valley Road, Suite 1400, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087-1898 USA, 2009.
2. Higgins C. Parameters that reflect the carbon dioxide content of blood. www.acutecaretesting.org Oct 2008.
Portability
The ABL90 FLEX analyser is fully operational on battery and can be connected to your hospital network via WiFi.
Replacing sensor cassettes and solution packs can be done by the user after 5 minutes of training. In addition there is onscreen user guidance. Choose from cassettes with 100, 300, 600, 900 or 1200 samples.
The ABL90 FLEX analyser is easy to maintain, with up to 30 days in-use lifetime of consumables. You can customise pre-warnings, and easily reuse tests from one consumable on another ABL90 FLEX analyser.
The ABL90 FLEX analyser offers full IT connectivity to the AQURE point-of-care management system, and can be used as a part of Radiometer’s 1st Automatic solution.
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