Test Principle; Checking The Contents - cobas Accutrend Plus Instrucciones De Uso

Introduction

Test principle

The meter reads the lot-specific characteristics of the test strips currently in use by means of a
code strip. This information is stored and therefore needs to be read only once per test strip con-
tainer. To run a test, an unused test strip is taken from the container and inserted into the meter.
When a strip is inserted, the application area of the test strip is illuminated by an LED (light-emit-
ting diode) from below. Before sample application, the reflection behaviour of the test strip is
determined by means of the light which is reflected from the application area (blank value).
The blood sample is then applied to the application area and the measurement chamber flap is
closed. The constituent to be determined in the applied sample undergoes an enzymatic reaction
with formation of a dye. The amount of dye formed increases with the concentration of the sub-
stance to be determined.
After a certain period of time (dependent on the test parameter), the colour intensity is measured
by illuminating the application area again from below using the LED. The intensity of the
reflected light is measured with a detector (reflectance photometry). The measured value is
determined from the signal strength of the reflected light, using the previously measured blank
value and the lot-specific information from the code strip. Finally, the result is displayed and
simultaneously saved to memory.

Checking the contents

Accutrend Plus meter
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User's manual
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Four batteries (1.5 V, AAA)
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8