Comparison of dry and wet chemistry techniques in estimation of plasma glucose, potassium, urea and creatinine

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and time consumed per test of dry chemistry methods compared to wet methods. The study population was 45 patients presented to the central laboratory of Khartoum Teaching Hospital for routine investigation. The biochemical parameters measured were glucose, urea, creatinine and K+ . They were measured by both wet chemistry methods and dry chemistry methods. The result showed similar accuracy of dry chemistry methods and wet chemistry method as far as K+ and creatinine are concerned. The accuracy of dry chemistry methods for urea and glucose were less than the accuracy of the wet chemistry methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the dry chemistry methods were less than the sensitivity and specificity of wet chemistry methods. However the time consumed per test of dry chemistry is less than that of the wet chemistry. Although the cost per test in the dry chemistry methods is higher than that of the wet chemistry methods. The instrument use in the dry chemistry (Reflotron) is cheaper than that used in the wet chemistry (Hitachi). We came to conclusion that the dry chemistry can be used as a bed site test or emergency test which can be confirmed further by wet chemistry methods.