OsmoPRO® Multi-Sample Micro-Osmometer User’s Guide
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2. System overview
The OsmoPRO is a 20-position, Multi-Sample Micro-Osmometer designed to process batched
samples with unattended operation. The OsmoPRO features a convenient turntable design for
easy sample loading, and uses a relatively small 20 µL sample volume.
The OsmoPRO provides fast, accurate and precise test results using the industry-preferred
freezing point depression method and is ideally suited for mid- to high-volume laboratories
preferring to automate osmolality batch testing while improving laboratory efficiency and
throughput.
2.1 Intended use
Advanced Instruments Osmometers use the technique of freezing point depression to measure
osmolality. Osmolality is the total solute concentration of an aqueous solution. Osmometers
measure the number of solute particles irrespective of molecular weight or ionic charge. This
information is useful to the following disciplines:
• Clinical, emergency and sports medicine
• Medical research
• Biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and manufacturing
• Food and beverage manufacturing
• Environmental research and monitoring
• Academic research
• Industrial applications
For clinical applications, the OsmoPRO provides osmolality measurement of biological fluids,
and is intended for use by trained healthcare professionals to assist in the diagnosis and
treatment of water and electrolyte imbalances in the general patient population. Osmometers
test virtually any biological fluid including, but not limited to, serum, whole blood, plasma, urine,
feces, sweat, and tissue homogenate. Operation of the instrument is deemed moderate
complexity under CLIA and FDA guidelines.
2.2 Principles of freezing point depression
When a solute is dissolved in a pure solvent, the following changes in the solution's properties
occur:
• Freezing point is depressed
• Boiling point is raised
• Osmotic pressure is increased
• Vapor pressure is lowered
These are the so-called "colligative" or concentrative properties of the solution which, within
reasonable limits, change in direct proportion to the solute concentration (the number of
particles in solution).
