Ionometry versus flame photometry in dialysis therapy
Stiller, S.; Mann, H.
Life Support Systems the Journal of the European Society for Artificial Organs 3(Suppl 1): 63-67
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0261-989X PMID: 3870623 Document Number: 267255
In order to decide whether the ionometer can be accepted as an alternative to the flame photometer in the measurement of sodium and potassium, extensive measurements with ionometry in parallel with flame photometry were performed in serum and dialysis fluid during dialysis. The influence of parameters which influence both ionometry and flame photometry in a different way (protein concentration, pH, acetate, and bicarbonate concentration) was investigated. The correlation between the two methods for potassium in serum and dialysis fluid was excellent (r greater than 0.95), but unsatisfactory for sodium in serum (r = 0.77) and in dialysis fluid (r less than 0.85). This low correlation is attributed in a greater extent to the random errors caused by flame photometry than by ionometry. Ionometry can be accepted as an alternative to flame photometry in dialysis therapy.