Dry chemistry vs wet chemistry analyzers
Both report the same liver, kidney, sugar and lipid tests. They differ in what they ask of your laboratory: water, reagent handling, maintenance and volume.
- WorkloadTests per day
- WaterPurified supply or none
- ReagentsSlides or liquid
- StaffSkill and time available
- CostPer test at your volume
What is the difference between dry and wet chemistry?
A dry chemistry analyzer runs each test on a ready-made slide that already contains the reagents in dry layers; the sample is spotted on and the slide is read. A wet chemistry analyzer pipettes liquid reagents and sample into a cuvette. Dry chemistry suits clinics, emergency laboratories and small hospitals with low volumes and limited water; wet chemistry suits laboratories with a steady, larger workload where cost per test matters most.
What each type needs from your laboratory
A wet analyzer needs purified water and regular reagent preparation. The HORIBA Yumizen C600, for example, uses under 14 litres an hour of Type II purified water. A dry-slide analyzer has no liquid reagents to prepare, and Fujifilm describes its DRI-CHEM NX600 as suitable where water is limited.
Results are comparable for most routine tests. One study comparing a dry and a wet analyzer on 12 analytes found excellent agreement for 10 of them, with HDL cholesterol and albumin lower. That study used a different dry analyzer, so treat it as a general indication and verify on your own samples.
Dry and wet chemistry compared
| Dry chemistry | Wet chemistry | |
|---|---|---|
| Reagents | Ready-made slides | Liquid reagents |
| Water supply | Little or none | Purified water needed |
| Daily maintenance | Low | Higher |
| Sample volume | 10 µL per test on DRI-CHEM | Varies by analyzer |
| Throughput | Up to 128 tests/hour (NX600), 190 (NX700) | 400 tests/hour or more on larger systems |
| Cost per test | Usually higher | Usually lower at volume |
| Best place | Clinics, emergency rooms, small hospitals | Busy hospital and diagnostic laboratories |
See the Fujifilm DRI-CHEM NX600, NX700 and our fully automated biochemistry analyzers. For wet analyzers, see also semi-automated vs fully automated.
When dry chemistry is the better choice
Emergency laboratories
Urgent chemistry at night without starting up a large analyzer.
Clinics and nursing homes
A few patients a day and no technician to prepare reagents.
Sites with poor water
No purified water plant to install or maintain.
Low and irregular volumes
Slides are used one test at a time, so little is wasted.
Whole blood samples
A built-in plasma filter on DRI-CHEM separates blood in about a minute.
Backup
Cover for the main analyzer during maintenance or breakdown.
How Milap helps
Site check and demo
We look at your workload and location, and show the system working before you decide.
Installation by our own engineers
Commissioning, checks and handover are done by Milap engineers.
Training for every shift
Application training for the nurses, technicians and doctors who will run samples.
Service after the sale
AMC and CMC contracts, with breakdown calls answered during evenings and weekends too.
Sources
Fujifilm, DRI-CHEM NX600 and NX700 specifications.
HORIBA, Yumizen C600.
Dry and wet chemistry agreement study, Journal of Pathology of Nepal 2023.
Frequently asked questions
For most routine tests the two agree well. A few analytes can differ between methods, so compare on your own samples and use method-specific reference ranges.
It does not need a purified water supply for reagents, which is its main practical advantage.
Slides usually cost more per test than liquid reagents. At low volumes the saving in waste, water and staff time can outweigh that.
Yes. DRI-CHEM analyzers measure sodium, potassium and chloride on electrolyte slides.
Yes. Many hospitals run a wet analyzer for routine work and a dry analyzer for emergencies.
Not sure whether dry or wet chemistry fits?
Tell us your daily tests and site conditions and we will suggest a system.