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Articles
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Article
April 2009
Using "lean" process mapping to integrate testing to point(s) of care in the clinical enterprise
As point-of-care applications of lab testing demand more rapid and clinically integrated order entry and results-reporting processes, it becomes paramount for the laboratory to investigate entire clinical processes.
Direct observation and process mapping of these clinical applications – end to end - are "lean" tools...
Blood gases/acid-base
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization
Creatinine/urea
Article
April 2009
Perspectives on the impact of point-of-care testing for cardiac markers on healthcare professional working relationships
Applications of point-of-care testing (POCT) for diagnostic biomarker measurement in healthcare have increased significantly in recent years in a wide range of clinical scenarios. These include infectious disease, critical care, cardiology and other areas of emergency medicine.
Traditionally, routine clinical...
Cardiac markers
Point-of-care testing
Troponins
Article
April 2009
Biomarkers in sepsis: the present and the future
Timely and accurate diagnosis of sepsis is of great importance for the choice of treatment, level of monitoring and prognosis. For this biomarkers could be a significant aid, and thus the search for and application of sepsis biomarkers are of great importance.
Current evidence suggests that C-reactive protein and...
Infection/sepsis
Troponins
PCT
CRP
Article
January 2009
Partners in error prevention
In an exclusive acutecaretesting.org interview, Dr Mario Plebani, Head of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University Hospital of Padova, Italy and international patient safety advocate, talks about how laboratory, clinicians and manufacturers can work together to reduce errors in testing and diagnosing...
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization
Article
January 2009
C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the assessment of infection response to antibiotic therapy
Definite diagnosis of infection requires microbiological
documentation; however, the identification of a specific etiology
is frequently missing. In addition, bacterial cultures require at
least 24-48 hours for a final result, which is too long for a
decision to start antibiotics.
Currently, the evaluation of the...
Infection/sepsis
Article
January 2009
An introduction to reference intervals (1) - some theoretical considerations
The population-based reference interval is the most
widely used tool for interpretation of individual patient
laboratory test results. The clinical value of those results
depend crucially on the reference intervals with which they are
compared, and all efforts directed at ensuring analytically
precise and accurate...
Blood gases/acid-base
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization
Hemoglobins
Article
October 2008
Iatrogenic anemia - a downside of blood testing
All clinical procedures and treatments are associated with potential adverse effects of greater or lesser significance.
The undisputed value of blood testing for both diagnosis and monitoring of disease is tempered by the recognition that repeated blood sampling can result in blood loss of sufficient magnitude to...
Preanalytical phase
Hemoglobins
Article
October 2008
Troponin Testing and the Tyranny of Distance
Chest pain is a frequent cause of hospitalization and comprises a significant proportion of the acute medical workload in the western world. This issue is compounded for those living in regional or remote communities due to limited access to pathology services and tertiary-referral institutions.
Evidence suggests...
Cardiac markers
Point-of-care testing
Troponins
Article
October 2008
Parameters that reflect the carbon dioxide content of blood
Updated with new information from a 2008 article! Health demands that despite quite significant variation in its rate of production, the amount of carbon dioxide in blood is maintained within well-defined narrow limits.
The homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the normal content of carbon dioxide in blood are...
Blood gases/acid-base
Creatinine/urea
Hemoglobins
Article
July 2008
Capillary blood gases - to arterialize or not
The ‘gold standard’ sample for blood gas analysis is arterial blood obtained via an indwelling arterial catheter or by arterial puncture. For a number of reasons capillary blood is an attractive substitute sample that is routinely used in some clinical settings.
The purpose of this article is to examine the evidence ...
Neonatology
Glucose
Preanalytical phase