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Checks All Parameters, Including Immature Red Blood Cells
Please see our Clinical Diagnostics Equipment and Kits section and Hematology Analyzers section to find manufacturers that sell these products
Automated multiparameter hematology analyzers are ubiquitous in the clinical laboratory and clinical hematology laboratory settings. Evaluating several parameters at once offers obvious advantages for time and cost savings when running patient samples. Multiple separate quality controls are typically needed to check the calibration of multiparameter hematology analyzers. For laboratories that use Beckman Coulter® (Fullerton, CA) hematology analyzers, Streck, Inc. (Omaha, NE) has created a quality control product that offers increased efficiency and convenience—the STaK-Chex® Plus Retics, a five-part differential control that monitors all complete blood count (CBC) parameters, including reticulocytes and nucleated red blood cells (nRBC), and which can be analyzed in a single run. This quality control reagent reduces overall operating costs by streamlining the quality control process and reducing the number of control runs and reagents.
The STaK-Chex Plus Retics all-in-one control is used for these Beckman Coulter instruments:
- UniCel® DxH™ 800
- STKS™
- MAXM™
- HmX
- LH 500
- LH 750/LH 755
- LH 780/LH 785
This assay contains automated and manual reticulocyte values for all three levels (low, normal, and high). (White blood cell types and reticulocyte percentages vary and are within clinically significant ranges.) This unique product has 14-day open-vial stability and 105-day closed-vial stability. The 4.5-mL pierceable-cap vial is barcoded and compatible with all instruments. There is also an assay disk available for uploading assay values to the Beckman Coulter LH 780/785, LH 750/LH 755, LH 500, and HmX.
Because the STaK-Chex Plus Retics is a combined control, the management of quality control records is facilitated; there is only one hematology control and there is no need for separate reticulocyte and nRBC controls. The barcoded assay sheets and vials are provided by Streck to enable correct QC file data input, increasing efficiency and eliminating the possibility of transcription errors.
Streck’s Laboratory Quality Control Program
Streck also offers STATS®, a free interlaboratory quality control program, to all customers. The program allows laboratories to evaluate the performance of their instrument or method against a peer group and demonstrate compliance with quality practices. Peer groups are comprised of other labs using the same instrument, method, and control lot number. STATS compiles data in personalized, easy-to-read reports to help labs detect changes in their systems before these significantly impact patient results. An online report option, STATS-Link®, allows labs to view current and archived reports
Conclusion
Streck continues to create innovative solutions for the clinical laboratory, which include quality control reagents that provide increased cost savings, ease of use, and efficiency, as well as numerous safety features that benefit both laboratory analysts and patients.
Please see our Clinical Diagnostics Equipment and Kits section and Hematology Analyzers section to find manufacturers that sell these products