The Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, has installed the Vitros ECi immunodiagnostic system from J&J Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, according to company sources.

The machine can be used in areas like thyroid endocrinology, reproductive endocrinology, cardiology, prenatal care, oncology, bone metabolism testing, bone health, anemia, as well as infectious diseases, it is learnt.

Incidentally, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics has completed 18 installations of this system in various hospitals across the country.

The company claims that Vitros ECi brings true automation and continuous random access capabilities to immunodiagnostic testing. The machine can simultaneously process 60 accessible samples for a throughput of 90 patient reportable results per hour.

There is no need to prepare reagents before use, because the machine uses dry slide technology, based on enhanced chemiluminescence. It can handle up to 20 ready-to-use integrated assay packs containing all needed reagents and assay microwalls. These can be loaded into the system’s refrigerated reagent management centre.

The machine has an advanced processing centre where patient samples are automatically metered into test microwells. Dual-logic processing optimizes test results and throughput for all assays, including STAT priorities.

The system’s command centre has a screen operator interface to manage patient information and testing parameters.

It is also possible to have continuous access to all samples and reagents while the machine is in full operation. Patient identification is facilitated through a barcode scanner. There is a save-the-sample-clot-detection feature, which automatically preserves sample integrity.

The system’s onboard supply management eliminates plumbing requirements and monitors tip as well as microwell waste.