Multi-centre evaluation of the Behring ELISA Processor II.

A multi-centre evaluation of the Behring ELISA Processor II in connection with the Enzygnost-tests from Behringwerke was performed by 3 laboratories following the ECCLS Guidelines for the Evaluation of Analysers in Clinical Chemistry. The performance characteristics were studied with analytical tests for anti-HBs1), HBsAg and anti-CMV2). This evaluation represents, to our knowledge, the first trial in clinical virology with guidelines primarily designed for clinical chemistry. The evaluation revealed that the highly automated Behring ELISA Processor II is a reliable tool in the virological laboratory. The data obtained showed low imprecision and good accuracy. The washing unit proved to be very efficient. No carry-over of reagents was detected in the dispenser system. Several improvements for further developments of the analyser are suggested. This multi-centre study has shown that the ECCLS protocol can be used to evaluate analysers and test systems in clinical virology.