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The Performance qualification of automatic volumetric pipettes used in university hospitals in the DRC: Case of Kinshasa, Bukavu, and Kisangani

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Title: The Performance qualification of automatic volumetric pipettes used in university hospitals in the DRC: Case of Kinshasa, Bukavu, and Kisangani
Authors: Joenna Bapite Musongiela, Jocelyn Mankulu Kakumba, Emile Tweni Baruti, Timothé Mavanga Mabaya, Jacquie Bolavie Bolande, Sara Munguakonkwa Byamungu, Jérémie Mbinze Kindenge
Source: Orapuh Journal, Vol 6, Iss 2 (2025)
Publisher Information: Orapuh, Inc., 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: Medicine (General), R5-920, accuracy, verification of performance, Precision, Internal medicine, RC31-1245, automatic volumetric pipettes
Description: Introduction Automatic micropipettes are widely used in clinical biology for quantitative analyses in medical diagnostics. However, in many hospitals in developing countries, this equipment is often not verified for accuracy in collecting biological sample volumes. This oversight can result in biased diagnoses with significant public health consequences, such as misdiagnosing a healthy individual as ill, or vice versa. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the performance of automatic volumetric micropipettes used in hospitals across three cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Bukavu, Kisangani, and Kinshasa. Methods Fifty micropipettes were collected from hospitals in these three major cities. All micropipettes were air-displacement type A, single-channel, with fixed and variable volumes. For each micropipette, 10 repeatable deliverable volumes were weighed. The mass of water obtained was converted to volume using the density of water at room temperature (approximately 1 g/mL at 20°C). Precision was evaluated using the coefficient of variation, while accuracy was determined by comparing the delivered volume to the nominal volume. The tolerances recommended by ISO 8655:2002 were applied in analyzing the results. Results The findings revealed that 12 out of 50 (24%) of the micropipettes analyzed were non-compliant. Non-compliance rates included 14% in Kinshasa and 10% in Bukavu, while all micropipettes from Kisangani were compliant. Conclusion This research highlights the importance of reinforcing staff skills regarding equipment performance verification. Ensuring the performance of micropipettes is crucial to the quality assurance systems in clinical biology laboratories, as it guarantees reliable medical diagnostic results and safeguards public health.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 2644-3740
DOI: 10.4314/orapj.v6i1.12
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/2f89d9c89f74418aaf1f9d5470cf742c
Accession Number: edsair.doajarticles..1758867aa6ea3529e6f2abe844f5e7d9
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Introduction Automatic micropipettes are widely used in clinical biology for quantitative analyses in medical diagnostics. However, in many hospitals in developing countries, this equipment is often not verified for accuracy in collecting biological sample volumes. This oversight can result in biased diagnoses with significant public health consequences, such as misdiagnosing a healthy individual as ill, or vice versa. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the performance of automatic volumetric micropipettes used in hospitals across three cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Bukavu, Kisangani, and Kinshasa. Methods Fifty micropipettes were collected from hospitals in these three major cities. All micropipettes were air-displacement type A, single-channel, with fixed and variable volumes. For each micropipette, 10 repeatable deliverable volumes were weighed. The mass of water obtained was converted to volume using the density of water at room temperature (approximately 1 g/mL at 20°C). Precision was evaluated using the coefficient of variation, while accuracy was determined by comparing the delivered volume to the nominal volume. The tolerances recommended by ISO 8655:2002 were applied in analyzing the results. Results The findings revealed that 12 out of 50 (24%) of the micropipettes analyzed were non-compliant. Non-compliance rates included 14% in Kinshasa and 10% in Bukavu, while all micropipettes from Kisangani were compliant. Conclusion This research highlights the importance of reinforcing staff skills regarding equipment performance verification. Ensuring the performance of micropipettes is crucial to the quality assurance systems in clinical biology laboratories, as it guarantees reliable medical diagnostic results and safeguards public health.
ISSN:26443740
DOI:10.4314/orapj.v6i1.12