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Article
July 2012
Blood Lactate: A Useful Analysis in Emergency Care
Reprinted and translated by permission of Läkartidningen from “Serumlaktat - användbar analys inom akutsjukvården”, by Bengt R Widgren and Monique Ekhardt, 2011; vol 108: 475-477. Copyright 2011 by Author, Läkartidningen and AB Typoform, Sweden.Translated by Radiometer Medical ApS.
In emergency care triage, diagnosis...
Point-of-care testing
Glucose
Process optimization
CRP
Lactate
Hemoglobins
Article
July 2012
Preanalytical errors in Point-Of-Care Testing
Preanalytical errors are quite frequent in the area of point-of-care testing (POCT). There are many reasons for that. First of all, POCT testing is usually performed by clinical staff (i.e. nurses and physicians), who are neither so skilled nor educated for laboratory work as laboratory professionals.
Moreover,...
Point-of-care testing
Quality assurance
Preanalytical phase
Article
July 2012
Effect of small air bubbles on changes in blood pO2 and blood gas parameters: calculated vs. measured effects
When collecting blood for blood gas analysis, it is important to remove air bubbles from syringes to avoid erroneous results, especially for pO2, with a number of factors affecting the potential magnitude of the interference to pO2 by air bubbles.
In this study, we calculate the expected theoretical changes in pO2...
Blood gases/acid-base
Preanalytical phase
Article
April 2012
C-reactive protein point-of-care testing for respiratory-tract infections in primary care
Differentiating self-limiting from serious lower-respiratory-tract infections (LRTI) based on medical history and physical examination is challenging in primary care. Many family physicians (FPs) empirically prescribe antibiotics to most LRTI patients.
The use of C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing as an...
Infection/sepsis
Point-of-care testing
PCT
CRP
Article
April 2012
Why measure blood gases? A three-part introduction for the novice. Part 2.
Arterial blood gases (ABG), a clinical test that involves measurement of the pH of arterial blood and the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolved in arterial blood, is routinely used in the diagnosis and monitoring of predominantly critically/acutely ill patients being cared for in hospital emergency rooms and...
Blood gases/acid-base
Article
January 2012
Why Point of Care lactate?
Sepsis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity for hospitalized patients around the world. Early intervention can reduce mortality and morbidity from severe sepsis, but signs and symptoms of sepsis are non-specific. Point-of-care lactate has proved to be an invaluable tool for some institutions in standardized...
Glucose
Infection/sepsis
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization
Lactate
Article
January 2012
POCT in the ED - relevant clinical and economical advantages
In the ED, 25 % of patients with angina pectoris with suspected AMI are wrongly diagnosed (no cardiac involvement). As a result, the patient risks are increased and resources are wasted.
We investigated the effect of point-of-care testing (POCT) on ED processes, resource needs, patient risks and overall costs.
POCT...
Cardiac markers
Process optimization
Point-of-care testing
Lactate
Creatinine/urea
D-dimer
Troponins
Natriuretic peptide
Article
January 2012
Why measure blood gases? A three-part introduction for the novice - Part 1
Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis generates a number of parameters (listed in BOX 5) that together allow assessment of pulmonary gas exchange, blood oxygenation and acid-base balance. These physiological functions of the blood, respiratory and renal systems are disturbed in a range of respiratory and non-respiratory...
Blood gases/acid-base
Hemoglobins
Article
January 2012
Potential benefits when the critical reference change value for serial measurements of troponin I is used
A new parameter called critical reference change value (CrRCV) to be applied for the interpretation of serial measurements of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is introduced. To illustrate the practical utility of CrRCV a set of clinical examples based on two consecutive cTnI results are presented.
Thus three cTnI changes...
Cardiac markers
Information management
Article
October 2011
POC testing in the emergency department: Strategies to improve clinical and operational outcomes
Emergency departments (ED) are challenged by increasing patient visits, overcrowding and prolonged length of stay (LOS). The cause of these problems is multifactorial.
Delays in the laboratory are often perceived as contributing to delays in care and increased LOS. Implementation of selected point-of-care tests in...
D-dimer
Creatinine/urea
Natriuretic peptide
Troponins
Cardiac markers
Point-of-care testing
Process optimization