A simultaneous evaluation of three multiparametric coagulation instruments: BFA, HEMOLAB and STA.

In the present paper, three multiparametric coagulation instruments were evaluated with regard to chronometric tests for aPTT (CK-Prest and automated APTT), PT (Recombiplastin and Thromborel), fibrinogen and factors of the prothrombin complex. Analysis of within-run precision and linearity and comparative studies showed the analytical performances of the instruments to differ according to the reagents used and emphasized the difficulty of finding the best compromise between instrument and reagent. On the basis of this study, the mechanical instrument appeared to be more versatile than the optical machines. This conclusion could however be modified after further evaluation of the recent new generation coagulation instruments.

[Microanalysis of serum iron by atomatic absorption spectrophotometry in a graphite oven: improvement and evaluation of this method]. / Microdosage du fer sérique par spectrophotométrie d'absorption atomique au four graphite: amélioration et évaluation de cette méthode.

We describe a method of micro-assay of serum iron by atomic absorption without flame, after deproteinisation of the serum by molar hydrochloric acid. In this way, we can assay the serum iron in 10 microliters of serum by injection of the supernatant into a graphite oven. The results show a good correlation with those obtained by conventional techniques of atomic absorption and colorimetric assays using ferrozine and bathophenanthroline. However, great care must be taken in the cleaning of plastic test tubes.