ABSTRACT
In clinical medicine, the pH electrode is used universally as part of the "blood gas analysis" equipment, but other ion-selective electrodes tend to remain in the hands of research workers or enthusiasts with a special interest. The fundamental limitations of electrode determinations make it doubtful whether a multichannel electrode system could be made to meet the specifications of the best emission flame photometers. In spite of the rather gloomy introduction, it is clear that ion-selective electrodes have important roles to play in clinical medicine. Exploitation of one or more of the advantages, where required in clinical care, rather than an attempt to compete on all fronts, might lead to a more rational application of ion-selective electrodes. The other advantage that the ion-selective electrode has to offer is the convenience of a rapid result from a direct reading on whole blood. The design of cuvettes for ion-selective electrodes operating in biological fluids is more critical than for blood gas electrodes.
