Validation of a low-cost continuous renal replacement therapy dialysate fluid controller for experimental purposes

Background Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) support is crucial for critically ill patients and it is underexplored in specific situations. Experimental CRRT offers a means to gain insights into these scenarios, but the prohibitive cost of CRRT machines limits their accessibility. This study aimed to develop and validate a low-cost and precise dialysate controller for experimental CRRT. Results Our results demonstrate a commendable level of precision in affluent flow control, with a robust correlation ( R 2 = 0.99) for continuous flow and a strong correlation ( R 2 = 0.95) for intermittent flow. Additionally, we observed acceptable agreement with a bias = 3.4 mL (upper limit 95% = 43.9 mL and lower limit 95% = − 37 mL) for continuous flow and bias = − 20.9 mL (upper limit 95% = 54 mL and lower limit 95% = − 95.7 mL) for intermittent flow, in this way, offering a precise CRRT dose for the subjects. Furthermore, we achieved excellent precision in the cumulative ultrafiltration net (UFnet), with a bias = − 2.8 mL (upper limit 95% = 6.5 mL and lower limit 95% = − 12 mL). These results remained consistent even at low affluent flow rates of 8, 12, and 20 mL/min, which are compatible with CRRT doses of 25–30 mL/kg for medium-sized animals. Moreover, the acceptable precision of our findings persisted when the dialysate controller was subjected to high filter dialysate chamber pressure for an extended duration, up to 797 min. Conclusions The low-cost dialysate controller developed and tested in this study offers a precise means of regulating CRRT in experimental settings. Its affordability and accuracy render it a valuable instrument for studying CRRT support in unconventional clinical scenarios, particularly in middle-income countries’ experimental ICU laboratories.