System design solutions for high volume immunoassay analysis

This paper describes the development, design requirements, and performance of the ADVIA(R):Centaur Automated Chemiluminescence System (Bayer Diagnosti cs, Tarrytown, NY), a high-volume, random-access immunoassay system which p rovides up to 30 onboard assays, primary tube sampling, speed of up to 240 tests per hour, automated onboard dilutions, repeats, reflex testing, and a n operator walk-away time of up to 840 tests, The various functional, pract ical, and operational requirements of such a system are discussed, and the design solutions developed are described.