Multilayer film analysis: evaluation of ion-selective electrolyte slides.

We evaluated the Kodak Ektachem multilayer ion-selective electrolyte slides. For various types and concentrations of control material the precision (CV) within- and between-day ranged from 0.5 to 1.3% (1.7-2.1%) for sodium, 1.2 to 2.2% (2.7-2.9%) for potassium, 2.9 to 4.6% (5.9-6.7%) for carbon dioxide, and 0.7 to 1.6% (1.3-1.4%) for chloride. For all these analytes, analytical recovery was about 100%, except in the supra-physiological ranges, for which carbon dioxide recovery was about 110-120%. Either serum or heparin-treated plasma can be used, interchangeably, for analysis; use of serum treated with lithium iodoacetate is unacceptable. Comparisons with results by continuous-flow procedures demonstrated good correlation for sodium, potassium, and chloride; carbon dioxide comparisons indicate an Ektachem calibrator change may be required. Abnormally low protein concentrations or lipemia had no observed effects on results for electrolytes. Abnormally high protein concentrations affect sodium results slightly (approximately 5 mmol/L).