Monday, September 15, 2008
Hey to all,
for the past 2 weeks, i was posted to biochemistry sector. Initially it was very boring as it was mostly observation work cause i wasn't allowed to do anything else besides loading and unloading of the samples into the centrifuge. But from the 4th day onwards, i was capable of identifying the which machine or sector to send the samples to according to the requested test.
In biochemistry, we use Beckman Coulter Synchron, LX20 PRO on closed tube samples. Anyway, we carry out a series of tests like liver panel, renal panel I, renal panel II, chemistry tests - Magnesium, Phosphate, Potassium, etc.
I will be touching on one of the tests done in renal panel, the glucose test. Glucose (Glc), is a monosaccharide (or simple sugar) used as a source of energy and metabolic intermediate. 
http://science9.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/diabetes-glucose.gif
Both hyperglycemia (increase in blood glucose level) and hypoglycemia (decrease in blood glucose level) could be caused by renal dieases.
ie) Hypoglycemia - characterized by a drop in blood glucose level (<4.0>
As O2 consumption is measured instead of peroxide formation, peroxide must be destroyed without causing release of oxygen.
Therefore ethanol is added in the presence of catalase.
To ensure complete destruction of peroxide, iodide and molybdate are added to the enzyme reagent, causing the following reaction:
In LX20, glucose test is used for the diagnosis and monitoring of carbohydrate metabolic diseases, neonatal hypoglycemia, pancreatic-islet cell tumours, etc. The principle used is the determination of the glucose concentration by an o2 rate method employing a Beckman Coulter Oxygen electrode. The ratio used is 1:76, which is 10 ul of sample to the glucose reagent from Beckman. Usually the samples are collected in EDTA tubes or flouride tubes (glycolysis inhibitor) and tests are carried out within 2 hrs from the time of collection. GLUCm assay must be calibrated every 48 hrs / with each new bottle of reagent.
The rate of O2 consumption is directly proportional to the concen of GLUCm in the sample.
As O2 consumption is measured instead of peroxide formation, peroxide must be destroyed without causing release of oxygen. 
Therefore ethanol is added in the presence of catalase.
To ensure complete destruction of peroxide, iodide and molybdate are added to the enzyme reagent, causing the following reaction:
Yup, thats it for all. =)
Debbie
TG02
=)
9:59 AM