A rapid automatic analyzer and its methodology for effective bentonite content based on image recognition technology

Fast and accurate determination of effective bentonite content in used clay bonded sand is very important for selecting the correct mixing ratio and mixing process to obtain high-performance molding sand. Currently, the effective bentonite content is determined by testing the ethylene blue absorbed in used clay bonded sand, which is usually a manual operation with some disadvantages including complicated process, long testing time and low accuracy. A rapid automatic analyzer of the effective bentonite content in used clay bonded sand was developed based on image recognition technology. The instrument consists of auto stirring, auto liquid removal, auto titration, step-rotation and image acquisition components, and processor. The principle of the image recognition method is first to decompose the color images into three-channel gray images based on the photosensitive degree difference of the light blue and dark blue in the three channels of red, green and blue, then to make the gray values subtraction calculation and gray level transformation of the gray images, and finally, to extract the outer circle light blue halo and the inner circle blue spot and calculate their area ratio. The titration process can be judged to reach the end-point while the area ratio is higher than the setting value.

Study on the Hook Effect in the Detection of Beta2-Microglobulin with Different Reagents in Fully Automated Biochemical Analyzers

Objective:To investigate the hook effect in the detection of beta2-microglobulin(β2-MG)with different reagents as well as on two fully automated biochemical analyzers and their solutions.Methods:Using immunoturbidimetric assay forβ2-MG as the research object,β2-MG levels were detected by different concentration gradients ofβ2-microglobulin samples in Liedemann,Mack,and Myriad reagents of three manufacturers on two automatic biochemical analyzers,and the difference of the hook effect was comparatively analyzed.Results:Leadman reagent showed the hook effect on the Beckman AU5800 automated biochemistry analyzer,while both Maccura and Mindray reagents did not show the hook effect.After the experiments,we found the limit value of the pre-zone check of Leadman reagent,and changed the parameters of the instrument,when the limit value of the pre-zone check was reached,the instrument automatically diluted the specimen five times and then detected it again.After changing the parameters of the instrument,the correlation between the three methods of detecting samples of different concentrations was r>0.99.Conclusion:Before selecting the application of immunoturbidimetric reagents,we have to carry out the risk assessment of the hook effect and selectively set the parameters of the pre-zone check based on the highest concentration that may occur in the clinic;for the items that may have the hook effect,we have to selectively set the parameters of the pre-zone check when the ratio of average reaction rate and the immediate reaction rate is at the limit value,and the phenomenon of antigen excess may occur,the instrument will carry out automatic dilution before detection,so as to avoid the issuance of erroneous results of high-value samples due to the hook effect.