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Articles and journal scans about Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
June 2017
Blood glucose control in critically ill children
The physiological stress response to critical illness and trauma determines that transiently raised blood glucose (hyperglycemia) is common among those admitted to intensive care, irrespective of their diabetes status. Much research has been directed at establishing whether or not intensive insulin therapy aimed at...
Neonatology
Point-of-care testing
Glucose
Article
August 2016
Procalcitonin used in the emergency room
For patients presenting to the ED with symptoms of a suspected infection, measuring procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful diagnostic tool to identify bacterial infections, such as sepsis, allowing for early initiation of proper antibiotic treatment.
In assessing the severity of sepsis, serum PCT levels are an important...
Infection/sepsis
Point-of-care testing
PCT
Article
January 2016
POCT: Taking control in uncontrolled premises, part 2
Point-of-care testing (POCT) covers a broad range of pathology and non-pathology testing. The volume of POCT is rapidly increasing with an annual growth rate of 12-15 %.
By virtue of its compactness, portability, and the feasibility of operation by non-laboratory personnel, where fast and accurate testing methods and...
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization
Quality assurance
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Journal Scan
July 2015
Point of care testing – a review article
As the authors of a recent wide-ranging review of the subject make clear, point-of-care testing (POCT) has greatly expanded, in terms of both prevalence and functionality, over past decades. They report a predicted average growth rate in the use of POCT in the US of >15 % over the coming years.
The three authors (one ...
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
July 2015
Expanding the role of serum BNP and serum NT-proBNP measurement
Central laboratory or point-of-care testing of blood to determine natriuretic peptide (either BNP or N-terminal proBNP) concentration has a clinically established role in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with breathlessness; normal levels exclude a diagnosis of heart failure, a common cause of...
Natriuretic peptide
Point-of-care testing
Article
July 2015
POCT: Taking control in uncontrolled premises
With the ultimate goal of improving patient care, adoption of point-of-care testing (POCT) continues to grow at a high rate. The ability to deliver fast and reliable results near the patient is a key driver for improving patient outcomes and optimizing clinical workflow.
While there are many advantages, controlling...
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization
Quality assurance
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Article
June 2015
Spurious sodium results (2) pseudohypernatremia
Plasma sodium concentration is measured with an ion-specific electrode (ISE) using either an undiluted sample (direct ISE) or diluted sample (indirect ISE).
This is the second of two linked articles highlighting the spurious sodium values that can occur if an indirect ISE method is used to analyze plasma samples with ...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Article
April 2015
Evolution of pathology services with point-of-care testing in Cornwall
This article first appeared in Pathology in Practice (Hobba H, Silver L. Evolution of POC testing. Pathology in Practice 2013; 14 [2]: 63) and is reproduced here by kind permission (www.pathologyinpractice.com). © 2013 kdm communications limited
Point-of-care (POC) testing has allowed the pathology department in...
Process optimization
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance
Information management
D-dimer
Troponins
CRP
Journal Scan
April 2015
A problem in sodium measurement addressed
The concentration of sodium (Na) in blood serum/plasma is determined by ion-specific electrode (ISE) technology that measures the physiologically important activity of sodium ions present in the aqueous (water) phase of plasma.
Two methods are available: direct ISE and indirect ISE. Direct ISE, which is employed in...
Point-of-care testing
Electrolytes
Article
March 2015
Spurious sodium results (1) – pseudohyponatremia
Disturbance of sodium balance is a common occurrence among hospitalized patients that can, if not identified and treated, cause significant morbidity; severe disturbance is potentially lethal. So estimation of plasma sodium concentration is one of the most frequently requested blood tests.
Historically, plasma sodium ...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Glucose
Kidneys/fluids