Robotic chromatography: development and evaluation of automated instrumentation for assay of glycohemoglobin

• Published in: Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 143 - 147
• Main Authors: Herold, C D, Andree, K, Herold, D A, Felder, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for Clinical Chemistry 01.01.1993
• Subjects: Autoanalysis - instrumentation; Autoanalysis - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography, Affinity - methods; Chromatography, Affinity - standards; Chromatography, Affinity - statistics & numerical data; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Humans; Management. Various non-drug treatments. Langerhans islet grafts; Medical sciences; Robotics; Time Factors; Human; Evaluation; Automation; Affinity chromatography; Automatic instrument; Diabetes mellitus; Laboratory investigations; Hemoglobin A1; Robotics; Blood; Biological monitoring; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0009-9147; 1530-8561
• DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/39.1.143

The measurement of glycohemoglobin (GHb) by boronate affinity chromatography is useful in monitoring long-term glucose control in diabetic subjects. The inherent disadvantage of this method is the hands-on time required because the hemoglobin fractions are separated on individual disposable columns. To overcome this disadvantage, we have programmed a Hamilton Microlab 2200 automated pipetting cartesian robot to complete the procedure, from the aspiration of blood from the sample-collection tube to the transfer of the separated hemoglobin fractions to a microtiter plate for absorbance measurement. This automated robotic system can analyze 96 specimens, including patients' samples and control material, in approximately 3 h. The precision (CV) of the method ranged from 1.6% to 3.5% within-run and from 2.7% to 3.5% day-to-day. The results correlated with those obtained with the Accuflex semiautomated robot, which used the identical disposable column, and those obtained with a Primus high-performance liquid chromatograph, which used a regenerated microparticle column. Automation of the GHb procedure allowed improved throughput, reduced labor cost, improved precision, and offered greater laboratory safety.