Adaptation and evaluation of the Randox full-range CRP assay on the Olympus AU2700.

The implementation of a high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) assay as a routine laboratory parameter may be necessary. A single CRP method that could yield reliable results for the whole concentration range (0.1-200 mg/L) would be the most practical solution for the laboratory setting. The aim of this study was to assess the Randox full-range CRP assay on the Olympus AU2700 biochemistry analyzer and evaluate its analytical performance on serum and heparin plasma samples. The Randox CRP turbidimetric assay was compared with the existing CRP assay used routinely on the Olympus AU2700. The analytical performance of the Randox CRP with both Olympus CRP reagents (CRP for normal application and hs-CRP) was good. We found that the Randox CRP method in the range of 0.5-160 mg/L was closely correlated to the Olympus CRP and hs-CRP for serum samples. According to a Bland-Altman analysis, the serum and heparinized samples showed an excellent agreement in CRP concentrations throughout the entire range (mean difference = -0.035 +/- 1.806 mg/L) as well as in CRP levels <10 mg/L. Our data indicate that Randox full-range CRP measurements using an immunoturbidimetry assay on Olympus systems perform as well for routine diagnostics as other high-sensitivity applications using serum or heparin plasma. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.