Quiz on Automation in Clinical Chemistry

What is the primary purpose of automation in clinical chemistry?

• To eliminate the need for reagents

• To perform many tests with minimal analyst involvement

• To increase human involvement in testing

• To reduce the number of tests performed

What does 'carry-over' refer to in laboratory testing?

• The time taken to process a specimen

• The process of washing the machine

• The transfer of analyte from one specimen to another

• The number of tests performed in a batch

Which of the following is a benefit of laboratory automation?

• More manual handling of specimens

• Reduced turnaround times

• Higher labor costs

• Increased human error

What is 'throughput' in the context of an analyzer?

• The number of specimens processed in a given time

• The number of tests performed per specimen

• The amount of reagents used in testing

• The time taken to analyze a single specimen

What was the first commercial automated analyzer introduced?

• Kodak Ektachem

• Centrifugal analyzer from NASA

• Autoanalyzer by Technicon

• Automatic Clinical Analyzer by DuPont

Which of the following is NOT a factor driving laboratory automation?

• Turn-around time demands

• Staff shortages

• Economic factors

• Increased manual processes

What is a major limitation of total laboratory automation?

• Need for substantial financial investment

• Decreased accuracy

• Reduced specimen integrity

• Increased manual labor

What type of analysis allows samples to be tested in any order?

• Batch analysis

• Discrete analysis

• Random-access analysis

• Sequential analysis

What is the purpose of using barcoding in specimen identification?

• To ensure accurate sample tracking

• To increase manual entry errors

• To eliminate the need for reagents

• To reduce the number of tests

Which of the following is a characteristic of an open-system analyzer?

• Cannot adapt to new methods

• Is less flexible than closed systems

• Allows preparation of in-house reagents

• Requires unique containers for reagents