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Articles and journal scans about 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
Article
April 2010
Hyperglycemic control in the ICU
Tight glycemic control (TGC) in the intensive care unit is essential to comprehensive clinical management.
However, TGC that is too aggressive in the wrong patient populations (particularly non-diabetics) can result in hypoglycemia, which brings with it a set of sequelae that can increase morbidity and mortality....
Glucose
Point-of-care testing
Article
April 2010
Creatinine measurement in the radiology department 1
Clinical laboratory measurement of serum/plasma creatinine concentration has been used to assess patient kidney function for well over 50 years. With incorporation of creatinine analyses to blood gas and other point-of-care platforms the test is now available outside the laboratory, at the bedside and in the clinic.
...
Point-of-care testing
Creatinine/urea
Kidneys/fluids
Article
January 2010
Blood oxygenation and spurious hypoxemia
One of the principal utilities of arterial blood gas
(ABG) analysis is to help assess blood oxygenation status. The two
ABG parameters used for this assessment are
pO2(a) (partial pressure of oxygen in arterial
blood) and sO2(a) (% of total hemoglobin that is
saturated with oxygen).
In health pO2(a) is
maintained...
Blood gases/acid-base
Point-of-care testing
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Article
October 2009
Clinical aspects of pleural fluid pH
Pleural effusion, defined as excess fluid in the pleural space, can complicate the course of a large and pathologically diverse range of pulmonary and non-pulmonary diseases. Laboratory analysis of pleural fluid provides much useful information for the clinician whose diagnostic challenge is the patient presenting...
Point-of-care testing
Blood gases/acid-base
Glucose
Lactate
Hemoglobins
Article
June 2009
Acute care testing at the point-of-care: now and in the future
The field of point-of-care testing (POCT) is entering a period of rapid expansion. This expansion is being driven by new evidence for clinical effectiveness of POCT, and new technologies that allow consolidation of testing onto smaller platforms.
Technological improvements will also lead to increased accuracy for...
Glucose
Blood gases/acid-base
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance
Lactate
Creatinine/urea
Hemoglobins
Kidneys/fluids
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
Reference intervals (2) - some practical considerations
This is the second of two articles focusing on the reference interval, the most widely used tool for interpretation of patient test results.
The first [1] was an introduction to the theoretical concepts that underpin the significance, construction and use of reference intervals. Here consideration is given to the...
Quality assurance
Information management
Point-of-care testing
Hemoglobins
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
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