The Hycel-M multichannel analyzer--a model for evaluation.

We evaluated the Hycel-M Multichannel Analyzer on behalf of the British Department of Health and Social Security. The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the precision of the instrument over a prolonged period of time, to compare its results with those of well-tried laboratory procedures, and to determine how the instrument would perform under the rigors of routine analysis. In addition, experiments were designed and carried out to test specifically certain new features of the instrument. Some new approaches to the analysis of the data generated have been examined and are discussed. The findings are presented as a demonstration of an evaluation procedure.