ED professionals are required to deal with uncertainty on a daily basis. Various tests must be provided to patients with diffuse symptoms, extending waiting times for lab results, overcrowding wards and delaying the provision of timely care to critical patients.
Point-of-care testing (POCT) has the potential to be a key asset in the emergency department, speeding up vital diagnosis and treatment processes while reducing process costs and contingencies.1,2,3
Image Credit: Radiometer Medical
Accelerating patient flow in the ED
Radiometer has specialized in blood gas and acute care diagnostics since 1954. The company provides comprehensive, connected ED POCT solutions designed to support rapid clinical decision-making in any ED setting.
Whether a patient is sent home or referred on for additional treatment, ED point-of-care testing consistently speeds up patient turnaround time, helping busy departments to accelerate patient flow.
Overview of some of the relevant parameters that you can measure with the Radiometer ED POCT solution. Explore the parameters available to you with our ICU and NICU point-of-care testing solutions. Image Credit: Radiometer Medical
ED POCT solutions from Radiometer are able to perform a number of key tests, including the following.
Kidney function assessment
Determination of creatinine levels at the point of care can be used to quickly identify patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Patients’ kidney status can be assessed prior to MRI or CT scans to highlight any risk of contrast-induced nephropathy.4 Creatinine and urea results can also be used help assess gastrointestinal bleeding and dehydration.5,6
Timely diagnoses of MI, heart failure and other critical conditions
The capacity to rule in or rule out critical conditions without having to wait for lab results can help to reduce patient levels and avoid overcrowding in the ED.
Reliable results from point-of-care analyzers in the ED help medical professionals make timely diagnoses of conditions such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, sepsis and pulmonary embolism – all without the need to wait for lab results.
Measuring ßhCG can also help determine if the patient is pregnant at the point of care, enabling professionals to avoid medical procedures that could potentially harm the fetus.
Point-of-care testing reduces waiting time for patient care.”
Dr. Eric Revue, Head of the Emergency Department, Chartres Hospital, France
Point-of-care solutions from Radiometer
The use of point-of-care testing in critical care situations offers the potential to lower turnaround time.1,7
ED point-of-care testing (POCT) solutions from Radiometer are comprehensive and connected and are able to help reduce turnaround time through the provision of reliable results at the point of care.
Image Credit: Radiometer Medical
The company’s extensive range of products includes:
ABL90 FLEX PLUS blood gas analyzer
A compact blood gas analyzer is able to provide rapid blood gas results from 19 parameters, including urea and creatinine, in 35 seconds.
safePICO samplers
High quality blood gas syringes specifically designed for use with homogeneous samples.
AQT90 FLEX immunoassay analyzer
An immunoassay analyzer is able to test for 9 different biomarkers, providing results in 11-21 minutes and supporting healthcare institutions that need to better manage and accelerate patient flow.
AQURE POC IT solution
Efficient, robust device-to-lab connectivity which allows for easy remote maintenance and 24/7 management.
Video Credit: Radiometer Medical
References
- Larsson A et al. The state of point of care testing: a European perspective. Ups J Med Sci 2015; 120,1: 1-10.
- Von Eiff W et al. POCT-Management. Klinische und Ökonomische Effekte. Heidelberg: Medhochswei verlag 2013; 189-192.
- Smith et al., Preanalytical Errors in Point-of-Care Testing Auditing Errors of Patient Identification in the Use of Blood Gas Analyzers, Point of Care, Volume 10, Number 4, December 2011
- Salvagno et al, Analytical evaluation of Radiometer ABL90 FLEX PLUS enzymatic creatinine assay, Journal of Laboratory and Precision Medicine. Published: 06 August 2019.
- Higgins, C, Urea and the clinical value of measuring blood urea concentration, August 2016, https://acutecaretesting.org/en/articles/urea-and-the-clinical-value-of-measuring-blood-urea-concentration
- Higgins, C, Urea and creatinine concentration, the urea: creatinine ratio, October 2016, https://acutecaretesting.org/en/articles/urea-and-creatinine-concentration-the-urea-creatinine-ratio
- Nørgaard B, Mogensen CB. Blood sample tube transportation system versus point of care technology in an ED; effect on time from collection to reporting? A randomized trial. SJTREM 2012; 20, 71.