Last post I discussed some of the properties of the VITROS 5600 integrated system. So lets say you have reviewed my previous post decided you have room for this 2300 pound 9 foot wide instrument in your laboratory. I know you want one for your bedroom as well so how much will it cost you? The list price for the VITROS 5600 integrated system is $410,000 but don’t write that check just yet. According to one report by the ECRI institute, they also list other factors that will affect cost such as service contract, which was quoted at $23,546.25 per analyzer per year and a shipping cost of $1,400.00 per analyzer. Reagent pricing will vary depending on many factors but they quoted a price for the ECi A-HCV as $4.18 per test. ECRI institute recommends that prices be negotiated in order to decrease cost of the analyzer, reagents, service, and shipping. The VITROS 5600 employs 5 different measurement principles: Colorimetric/Rate, Potentiometric (direct ISEs), Immuno-rate, Turbidimetric, and Enhanced Chemiluminescence. The VITROS 5600 offers over 120 available assays. The principle behind the assay for HCV is Enhanced Chemiluminescence. The assay is FDA approved for in vitro qualitative detection of immunoglobulin G antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in human serum and plasma. No reagent preparation is needed for VITROS 5600. The VITROS 5600 integrated system offers advantages including the variety of assays included in the menu and automation. However this system has disadvantages such as initial high cost and a large footprint for the size of the instrument.
The development of all of these instruments is slightly frightening to me ...not because of the size or price, but because they are taking our jobs! This takes me back to our tour of the UAB Micro lab where the guide told us of the WASP. This will be a machine that will plate out specimens, incubate them, and interpret the results. Basically, the WASP will perform the tasks of the technologists. If these machines continue to be produced, their will no longer be a need for us. Luckily, these machines are very pricy, so until labs get the extra funds and space to purchase them, handy-dandy technologists will still be useful.
ReplyDelete