Best practices for use of the HEMOX analyzer in the clinical laboratory: quality control determination and choice of anticoagulant.

Abstract

The HEMOX Analyzer (TCS Scientific) has been used to measure the full oxygen-dissociation curve (ODC) and to calculate P(50) and the Hill coefficient. The effects of different anticoagulants on sample stability and P(50) values have not been evaluated extensively for this instrument. We characterized an artificial hemoglobin (Equil QC463) for quality control (QC) and compared P(50) values for blood samples drawn into 3 different anticoagulants (acid citrate dextrose [ACD], heparin, and EDTA). P(50) values were not stable in ACD but were stable in heparin and EDTA anticoagulants for up to 4 days. Tests with Equil QC463 showed that P(50) values were quite sensitive to small variations in buffer pH. Use of the correct anticoagulant and strict control of buffer pH are 2 parameters that need to be accounted for in best-practices use of this hemoximeter and before determining P(50).