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Article
September 2004
Biological variation - what’s it all about?
Biochemical and hematological analyses are done in laboratories, clinics, general practices and in point-of-care settings such as ITU. Generally, numerical test results are generated.
Test results vary in individuals over time due to preanalytical variation, analytical imprecision and biological variation. The...
Quality assurance
Hemoglobins
Glucose
Article
July 2004
Useful tips to avoid preanalytical errors in blood gas testing: neonatal total bilirubin
50-75 % of all newborns develop jaundice during their first week of life [1,2,3]. The decision behind which treatment is necessary and when it should be initiated is based upon a measurement of the concentration of total bilirubin (ctBil) in serum, plasma or whole blood.
It is therefore obvious that it is important...
Quality assurance
Bilirubin
Preanalytical phase
Hemoglobins
Blood gases/acid-base
Article
July 2004
The heart of the matter
Blood gas analysis at the point of care plays an important role during and after an open-heart surgery. acutecaretesting.org recently talked to Prof. Knut Kleesiek, MD, Director of the Institute for Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine of the Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, to find out more ...
Point-of-care testing
Blood gases/acid-base
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Lactate
Article
July 2004
Effective POCT: the need for a broader perspective
Optimizing all the steps in the testing cycle is as crucial to the success of point-of-care testing (POCT) as the measurement process itself. The complete POCT process or testing cycle is a complex series of events that involve many parties in any organization.
Consultation with all the people concerned is vital and ...
Point-of-care testing
Glucose
Article
June 2004
An introduction to acid-base balance in health and disease
Arterial blood gas analysis is a test most frequently performed on critically ill patients in the emergency room, recovery room and intensive care unit by nursing staff. One of the main purposes of the test is assessment of acid-base status, which is often disturbed during critical illness.
This article is intended...
Blood gases/acid-base
Kidneys/fluids
Article
June 2004
To co-ox or not to co-ox
Oxygen saturation can be obtained from many different types of devices. This range of choices causes some confusion as to definitions of measured variables and their clinical interpretation.
This article gives some historical background and describes the two different ways saturation can be obtained from a blood gas ...
Blood gases/acid-base
Hemoglobins
Article
June 2004
Accreditation of POCT facilities
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is one of the most rapidly
growing areas within laboratory medicine. The need for POCT has
developed because in many cases the central laboratory has been
unable to meet the expectations of clinical users, particularly
with respect to turnaround time.
It is widely recognized that...
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance
Glucose
Article
June 2004
Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Arterial blood gas analysis with the measurement of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood may be performed in the Pediatric ICU to evaluate the efficacy of ventilation or evaluate acid-base status.
Although the direct measurement of PaCO2 remains the gold standard, it provides only a single...
Neonatology
Article
April 2004
The practice of cord gas analysis in United Kingdom and Germany
Apgar scores and umbilical artery pH have traditionally been used as objective measures of neonatal asphyxia. According to the literature, the practice of cord gas analysis varies greatly both between and within countries - whether analysis is performed, whether it is routine at all births and why it is performed...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Glucose
Article
April 2004
Crossing your Ts in POCT: training and technology
Every POCT program today struggles with providing a solid program that is error free. Each program must be designed to fit the needs of the organization, so having the right people in key positions is important.
Additionally, training and competency programs are necessary so that each POCT operator understands the...
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance