Urinalysis with the new fully automated analyzer Supertron.

Supertron is a new fully automated urinalysis system which provides semi-quantitative results for erythrocytes, leukocytes, glucose, protein, urobilinogen, bilirubin, nitrite, ketone bodies, pH and specific gravity at a maximum throughput of 300 test strips per hour. Processing is fully automated starting from sample selection to test strip dipping and photometric measurement of the reagent field. In addition, results can be transmitted automatically to the integrated printer and/or host computer as needed. Within-run precision is good. The results of repeated measurements (n = 20) of most analytes fell in the same concentration block. Only one of three urine pools for erythrocytes, nitrite, ketone bodies, pH and specific gravity gave results which overlapped two neighbouring blocks. A comparison of the ten test strip analytes between Supertron and Miditron revealed a concordance of 96 to 100% in 390 urine specimens. A comparison of erythrocytes and leukocytes vs. the counting chamber method showed a concordance of 86 to 98% in 239 urine specimens. Also tested in detail were the stability of the test strips over 24 hours in Supertron's sorter drum and how well the integrated mixing rod was capable of mixing the urine specimens. Both were found to be good. The test strip stability exceeds the 10 h stability guaranteed by the manufacturer, and no differences were found after urine samples were left for 60 minutes on the tray.