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Articles and journal scans about Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
October 2014
A new role for point-of-care serum BNP testing?
Circulating concentrations of the hormone brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its precursor molecule, NT-proBNP are increased in those with heart failure. This has allowed a now established role for serum BNP and NT-proBNP testing in the investigation of patients presenting with shortness of breath, a cardinal symptom ...
Point-of-care testing
Natriuretic peptide
Journal Scan
April 2013
In favor of point-of-care sodium measurement
When monitoring the plasma/serum sodium concentration of sick newborn babies in neonatal intensive care units, it may be preferable to use direct ion-specific electrode (ISE) methodology incorporated in point-of-care analyzers (including blood gas analyzers), rather than the indirect ISE methodology commonly employed...
Neonatology
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
January 2013
In favor of more ionized-calcium measurement
The calcium present in blood plasma comprises two almost equal fractions: half is bound to albumin and the remainder is unbound, free ionized calcium. Only the free ionized calcium is physiologically active. There are two ways of assessing patient blood calcium status.
The first – at one time the only available...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
July 2012
Pseudohypernatremia - evidence of a common problem
Around 25 % of blood samples recovered from patients admitted to intensive care and 8 % of those recovered from all other hospitalised patients would return a plasma sodium result 4-10 mmol higher than its true value if the method of analysis was indirect ion selective electrode (ISE). This is the headline finding of...
Point-of-care testing
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
January 2012
Point-of-care screening for diabetic ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a common acute and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes that results from insulin deficiency, is characterized by raised blood glucose (hyperglycemia) and metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis occurs due to abnormal accumulation in blood of ketoacids, principally...
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
October 2011
Point-of-care creatinine testing in radiology
The necessary administration of image-enhancing agents to patients prior to radiological investigation is associated with risk of two serious adverse effects: nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). The risk only applies to those patients with renal disease, either acute kidney...
Kidneys/fluids
Point-of-care testing
Hemoglobins
Journal Scan
October 2010
Point-of-care testing speeds emergency care
When compared with conventional central laboratory testing (CLT), point-of-care testing (POCT) in the emergency department shortens the time taken for patient test results to be available, which in turn leads to speedier clinical decisions and much earlier patient treatment, hospital admission or discharge.
These are ...
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
April 2010
Ion-selective electrode interference - a review
Plasma electrolytes, which include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium, are among the most frequently measured blood analytes in clinical medicine. All are measured by ion-selective electrodes (ISE). ISEs are present not only in clinical laboratory instrumentation but also in blood gas analyzers and...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
October 2008
Reliability of point of care potassium measurement confirmed
Blood gas analysis has been performed at the point of care for well
over 20 years and is sufficiently established for clinicians to
have no misgivings about using pH, pCO2 and
pO2 results obtained at the point of care for
direct patient management.
Modern blood gas analyzers now have the
capacity to measure not only...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
January 2008
Lactate measurement – point of care versus the laboratory
Lactate measurement is important for diagnostic and prognostic assessment of the critically ill. Traditionally, lactate has been measured on serum/plasma samples in the central laboratory, but modern blood gas and other point-of-care analyzers now provide the means for real-time monitoring of lactate on whole blood at ...
Point-of-care testing
Lactate