Error checking in blood analyzer

Abstract

The present invention provides various methods for detecting errors in a blood analysis system. The system includes a blood analyzer and a molded plastic rotor with a series of chambers and capillary channels through which blood is processed and distributed to cuvettes which contain lyophilized reagents. The rotor is placed in the analyzer which spins the rotor, and an optical system reads the cuvettes as light is flashed through the cuvettes. The invention provides checks for: confirming the presence of a reagent in the cuvettes before a sample is applied to the cuvettes; determining whether a fluid sample has been properly distributed to the cuvettes of the rotor; determining whether an adequate amount of fluid sample was applied to the analytical rotor; determining whether a fluid sample has been properly distributed to a cuvette of an analytical rotor; determining whether a reaction chemistry in a cuvette has reached an end point; checking the noise level and non-linearity of a reaction rate in a cuvette; determining whether an adequate amount of diluent was delivered to the cuvettes of an analytical rotor; determining dilution systematic failure when measuring different reaction chemistries in the cuvettes of the rotor; determining whether a blood sample in a cuvette is hemolyzed, lipemic, or icteric; determining the degradation of a reagent in a cuvette; determining proper light source and light detector operation; and determining proper motor function and cuvette mark detection.