Analytical Evaluation of the Beckman Coulter
DxC 500i Clinical Analyzer

Introduction/Overview

The Beckman Coulter DxC 500i is an integrated clinical analyzer that combines general chemistry and immunochemistry analysis on a single platform, designed for low-volume laboratories. It boasts a broad menu of Six Sigma chemistry assays, ensuring precise and reliable results. This analytical evaluation, conducted by the Institute for Laboratory Medicine and Transfusion Medicine at RKH Regionale Kliniken Holding, assessed the analyzer's precision, accuracy, and method comparability. The study evaluated 35 applications over 20 days using control materials, external quality control schemes, and comparison studies against the cobas pro integrated solutions (Roche).

Key Study Findings:

• Exceptional Precision: Clinical chemistry and ion-selective electrodes (ISE) analytes demonstrated exceptional repeatability with most coefficient of variation values <2%, including electrolytes (1.11- 1.45%), glucose (0.79- 1.2%), creatinine (0.98- 1.22%), and uric acid (0.77- 0.82%)¹
• Strong Immunoassay Performance: Immunological assays showed good precision with coefficient of variation values of 3-5% for thyroid markers (Free T3, Free T4, TSH (3rd IS)), Total BhCG (5th IS), and IL-6; PTH showed typical higher variability at 7.44 – 8.69%¹
• Strong Method Correlation: Comparison studies revealed excellent correlations (r² >0.99) for most clinical chemistry parameters including albumin, ALP, ALT, creatinine, CRP, and glucose when compared to cobas pro¹