This chapter explains the technology and chemistry behind the Stratus^® CS Acute Care Stat fluorometric analyzer for the quantitative determination of cardiac and related analytes in whole blood or plasma. The system consists of an automated analyzer and TestPak^TM reagent packs. The immunoassays have a glass fiber paper solid phase and fluorescence chemistry. The features, design and principles are explained. There are also sections on calibration, antibodies, separation, signal generation and detection, and data processing, including interfacing to laboratory information systems.

Amy Sarli is responsible for Cardiac Point-of-Care products at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Norwood, Massachusetts, USA.

Stratus^®, acute care, near-patient, point-of-care, Stat test, fluorescence, calibration, antibodies, separation, signal generation, signal detection.