Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30733990›Full record

ArticlePractical laboratory medicine2019

Analytical evaluation of the Radiometer AQT90 FLEX βhCG assay.

Miranda M Brun, Laura Holloway, Amanda Oleksy, Jan Dayton, Mathew P Estey, Bobbi-Lynn Goudreau, Anna K Füzéry

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Practical laboratory medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 37% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Use of the Abbott i-STAT®1 point of care device for hCG quantification in early pregnancy.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Miranda M BrunDepartment of Laboratory of Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Laura HollowayAlberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Amanda OleksyAlberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Jan DaytonDynaLIFE Medical Labs, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Mathew P EsteyDepartment of Laboratory of Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Bobbi-Lynn GoudreauAlberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Anna K FüzéryDepartment of Laboratory of Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Alberta Health Services · CAUniversity of Alberta · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesMany hospitals cannot afford an hCG assay on a central lab analyzer and turn to point of care testing (POCT) solutions. The Radiometer AQT90 FLEX is a small benchtop immunoareement between the AQT90 and comparator methods for samples with hCG ssay analyzer for use in the laboratory or at the patient bedside. This study evaluated the analytical performance of the AQT90's βhCG assay.

methodsPrecision was assessed using whole blood patient samples and two levels of quality control. Linearity was assessed by dilution of a high hCG plasma sample. Carryover and hook effect were assessed using high and low hCG samples. Method comparisons were done against Abbott i-STAT Total βhCG, Beckman Coulter Total βhCG (5th IS), and Roche hCG+β. Sample concentrations ranged from<2 IU/L to 4,973 IU/L.

resultsRepeatability and within-laboratory precision passed most manufacturer's claims and allowable error criteria. Linearity was validated from<2 IU/L to 4,741 IU/L. Hook effect was not observed up to 2,446,448 IU/L. Carryover was<4.0 ppm. A linear relationship was observed with i-STAT, Beckman and Roche methods. At>20 IU/L, biases were apparent against all three comparator assays (i-STAT: +20%, Roche: +30%, Beckman: +5 to 15%). At ≤20 IU/L, the acceptability of agreement varied according to TAE specifications. Concordance between AQT90 and comparator assays using 5 IU/L as the medical decision level ranged from 69% to 81%.

conclusionsOverall, the AQT90 hCG assay performed well and would be suitable for smaller suburban or rural hospitals. Some limitations have been noted and should be kept in mind during clinical testing.

Indexed as

95% CI, 95% confidence intervalAMR, analytical measurement rangeAQT90CV, coefficient of variationEDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acidhCGhCG, human chorionic gonadotropinmethod evaluationPOCT, point of care testingQC, quality controlSD, standard deviationTAE, total allowable error

Identifiers

PMID30733990
PMCPMC6357890
OpenAlexW2910469749

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.