Starrsed ST
Does your laboratory perform Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) tests and are you looking to automate this process? If so, the Starrsed ST is the obvious solution. Starrsed is the world’s only product line that allows laboratories to perform ESR tests that are fully in agreement with the Westergren Method (the Gold Standard). The Starrsed ST is entirely automated and standardized, which makes it easy to use for every employee in your laboratory. The Starrsed ST achieves the highest degree of reliability in testing, leaving you and your operators available for other tasks in the laboratory.
Westergren Sedimentation Method
One of the oldest and most frequently requested blood tests is ESR. It has not changed fundamentally in the way it is carried out since Westergren described it in 1921. In 2011, the International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) defined the Reference Method for ESR to be the Westergren Method; the Gold Standard. The objective of ESR testing is to measure inflammatory state. The Westergren Method measures both infections related to infectious diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions. In addition to being very reliable, the Westergren Sedimentation Method is also amongst the cheapest laboratory tests available.
The Process
RR Mechatronics has developed the Starrsed ST, which is an tube based ESR analyzer with a small footprint. The Starrsed ST, in full operation, produces sample results up to every 30 seconds. After manually applying the sample tube for aspiration, the entire process is fully automated. A built-in barcode reader identifies each sample. The Starrsed ST will then perform an ESR measurement fully unattended.
How Does it Work?
After presenting a sample tube, the aspiration system is activated. A needle pierces the cap and blood is drawn from the tube. The Starrsed ST has a fully integrated diluting system, which dilutes the blood with the Starrsed citrate diluent in a 4:1 ratio, in full accordance with the Westergren Method. The diluted blood sample is then drawn up into one of the 24 Westergren pipettes inside the instrument (for immediate testing, a single sample can be analyzed). The instrument measures the sedimentation for each pipette within 30 or 60 minutes. Most users prefer the 30-minute mode.
The built-in printer produces the result that is also sent automatically to the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). Simultaneously, the used Westergren pipette is automatically cleaned and prepared to receive a new sample. Additionally, all 24 pipettes receive a fully automated, intensive end-of-day cleaning using Starrsed X-Clean. All waste fluids, i.e. blood, diluent and X-Clean, are collected in a built-in waste container, ready for disposal as stipulated by local regulations.
Controls
Good Laboratory Practice advises the use of controls to ensure the continued reliability of the test results. RR Mechatronics supports this with Starrsed Control. It is to be used in the ESR analyzer as if it were a real patient sample. Starrsed Control is processed exactly the same way and is fully compliant with the ICSH recommendations and CLSI procedures. The Starrsed ST recognizes the test tube by its barcode, reads the ESR range, checks the expiration date of the control, and analyzes the sample. Starrsed Control gives you maximum reliability at minimal effort and costs.
Additional Benefits
As the Westergren glass tubes are re-usable after each automatic cleaning, there are no additional costs for new pipettes. No disposable plastics of any kind are used.
As opposed to other test instruments, Starrsed instruments actually identify and report hazy samples so that the lab technician may decide on further testing.
The Starrsed ST makes use of EDTA sample tubes. The advantage is that EDTA blood is very stable compared to pre-citrated samples, allowing for accurate ESR test results up to 24 hours after collection. This provides laboratories with even more logistical flexibility.
Because the Starrsed ST dilutes the blood, which is in agreement with the Westergren Method, it compensates for different hematocrit levels. The hematocrit level of the sample therefore will not influence the accuracy of the ESR measured.
Purchase or Lease
The Starrsed ST may be purchased, it may be leased over a period of time, or installed on a cost-per-test basis. The last option comes with a pre-programmed chip card that allows for the agreed upon number of tests. When it runs out, new cards may be purchased. This brings the automated Westergren Method within every professional’s reach.
Starrsed RS, Starrsed RL and Starrsed ST are instrument names of RR Mechatronics. Until 2014 the Starrsed ST was called Inversa 24M, the Starrsed RS was called AutoCompact, the Starrsed RL was called Interliner. RR Mechatronics changed the product names to benefit better from the worldwide recognizability of the brand name Starrsed.
