Model A
2
O
®
Advanced Automated Osmometer User’s Guide
38
freezing points which bracket those of the expected unknowns. These
standards are derived from the fundamental work on freezing points of
dilute solutions. They are traceable to the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards).
Advanced Instruments also uses and provides Clinitrol™ 290 mOsm/kg
H
2
O Reference Solution, a sodium chloride reference solution for
checking osmometer accuracy at a point near the osmolality of normal
blood serum.
When testing a biological solution of an unknown osmolality, a similar,
simulated biological solution of a known value should be used to check
your osmometer. Although several controls are commercially available
and may be specified in your laboratory, Advanced Instruments strongly
recommends using Protinol
®
Protein-Based Controls or Renol™ Urine
Osmolality Controls. These products are specifically designed for
osmometers and provide the best assurance of system performance for
serum and urine samples. Contact your Advanced Instruments represen-
tative to obtain Protinol
®
and Renol™. Please check with your profes-
sional associations and regulatory bodies for their guidelines and/or
requirements, and refer to our recommendations contained herein.
The calibration standards and controls designed for use with the A
2
O
are provided with barcode identifications either on the adapters used to
hold the ampules in the primary carousel or on the labels attached to the
vials. When these solutions are tested on the A
2
O, the instrument reads
the barcode and automatically includes the part number and nominal
value of the standard or control in the record stored in the database.
Maintenance of standards
Doubts about the accuracy of standards destroy confidence in the accu-
racy of the test. Advanced osmometer standards are formulated to very
close tolerances. Several of the sodium chloride-based reference and
calibration solutions designed for Advanced Osmometers are sealed in
glass ampules to insure against possible alteration during transit or stor-
age. However, we recommend that you test samples from each newly-
received lot and maintain records of your test results for reference.
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