Emergency blood testing: EMS Stat™

Nova Biomedical’s EMS Stat* can measure lactate, glucose, ketone, hemoglobin and hematocrit for early assessment and treatment of patients.

• Laboratory-quality precision
• Fingerstick capillary sample, no venous blood draw
• Results are obtained in as little as 6 seconds
• Patient data is stored and transmitted by meters
• A long-lasting carrying case holds lancets, meters, controls and single-use biosensors

The EMS Stat can be used to measure  lactate, hemoglobin, hematocrit, glucose and ketone from a drop of capillary blood. Results are obtained in seconds with portable meters and single-use biosensors. The Stat EMS provides fast, simple and precise testing in the field.

Two meter systems are available. One system offers data storage as well as wireless connectivity to external data managers, while the other offers only data storage.

Test menu

The EMS Stat allows crucial tests that aid in emergency treatment and patient assessment. Such tests can be used to determine the suitable transport place for patients with sepsis, trauma or other specialized needs.

Lactate

Increased lactate levels in the blood are a sensitive, rapid indicator of sepsis, tissue hypoxia, hypovolemic shock and septic shock.^7–9

In the case of ambulance patients, lactate testing offers:

• Early and more sensitive detection of hypoperfusion during sepsis and septic shock than vital signs alone⁸
• Identification of patients with sepsis who may gain from early goal-guided therapy and advanced activation of the medical personnel at the site of transport^10,11
• Assessment of critical illness, trauma, hemorrhage, acute respiratory failure, acute coronary syndrome and chest and abdominal pain^11,13

Glucose

Abnormal levels of glucose are often seen in ambulance patients. Medical conditions, like diabetes, seizure, altered mental state, acute coronary syndrome, trauma, burns, sepsis, septic shock and organ injury,^1–3 warrant pre-hospital blood glucose testing.

Ketone

Blood ketone testing enables rapid detection or rule out of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a major cause of hospitalization and death for diabetic children.⁴

The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association suggests blood ketone testing whenever glucose levels are above 14 mmol/L (250 mg/dL).^5,6

Hemoglobin and hematocrit

The EMS Stat offers precise, measured results for both hematocrit and hemoglobin for pre-hospital assessment of blood oxygen-carrying capacity for:

• Estimation of blood loss
• Evaluation of external or internal hemorrhage
• Assessment of the need for blood products^14,15

Fingerstick sampling

The EMS Stat allows rapid and simple testing for high-stress medical situations using capillary samples from as little as 0.6 μL. Capillary sampling and testing is as simple as glucose self-testing carried out by diabetic patients.

The EMS Stat prevents the time and costs of a venipuncture, including the needle, tourniquet, transfer pipette and vacutainer — along with identifying a suitable vein.

Simple to use

The EMS Stat meters are fast, user-friendly and do not need calibration or coding before use.

Insert biosensor into the meter. Image Credit: Nova Biomedical

Lance finger. Image Credit: Nova Biomedical

Touch biosensor to blood drop. Read Results. Image Credit: Nova Biomedical

Results in seconds

With fast, simple testing steps and ready to use biosensors, EMS Stat provides results in 6 to 40 seconds after the fingerstick based on the assay.

A choice of two models

EMS Stat data link, connectivity and data storage

Image Credit: Nova Biomedical

The connectivity meters can store up to 1,000 patient results and provide Bluetooth connectivity. They provide complete point-of-care features, such as preset or customized test result comments, patient and operator ID, lockout for unauthorized use and quality control prompting.

The meters allow touchscreen operation and feature a bright color display.

The case is compact, rugged and includes all testing components, such as biosensors, meters, lancets and controls. It serves as a battery charging station for the meters. The case is also water-resistant and developed to protect all components if dropped. It comes with an adjustable shoulder strap.

EMS Stat Basic, data storage

Image Credit: Nova Biomedical

The Basic meters can store up to 400 test results along with a time and date stamp. It also allows first in/first out sequential numbering for the identification of samples. The meters include touch-sensitive buttons for operation and feature bright color screens.

The case is compact, rugged and includes all testing components, such as biosensors, meters, lancets and controls. It is water-resistant and developed to protect all components if dropped. It also comes with an adjustable shoulder strap.

* Not yet available in the U.S. or Canada.

References

1. Navarro K. Blood glucose test for altered mental status. EMS1. 31 May 2013. https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/Ambulance-Disposable-Supplies/articles/1454354
2. Khoujah D et al. Status epilepticus. What’s new? Emerg Med Clin N Am 2016; 34:759-776.
3. Solnica B. [Diagnostic aspects and analytical problems of glycemia monitoring in intensive care unit patients.] Przegl Lek 2006;63(9):792-796.
4. Bismuth E et al. Can we prevent diabetic ketoacidosis in children? Pediatr Diabetes 2007;8(Suppl. 6):24-33.
5. American Diabetes Association. Tests of glycemia in diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004;27(Suppl. 1):S92.
6. Rewers MJ et al. Assessment and monitoring of glycemic control in children and adolescents with diabetes. Pediatr Diabetes 2014;15(Suppl. 20):102-114.
7. Bakker J et al. [Serum lactate level as an indicator of tissue hypoxia in severely ill patients]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2000;144(16):737-741.
8. Jansen TC. The prognostic value of blood lactate levels relative to that of vital signs in the pre-hospital setting: A pilot study. Crit Care 2008;12:R160.
9. Andersen LW et al. Etiology and therapeutic approach to elevated lactate. Mayo Clin Proc 2013;88(10):1127-1140.
10. Guerra WF et al. Early detection and treatment of patient with severe sepsis by prehospital personnel. J Emerg Med 2013;44(6):1116-1125.
11. St. John AE et al. Prehospital lactate predicts need for resuscitative care in non-hypotensive trauma patients. West J Emerg Med 2018;19(2)224-231.
12. Vincent JL et al. The value of blood lactate kinetics in critically ill patients: A systematic review. Crit Care 2016;20(1):257.
13. Soremekun OA et al. Utility of point-of-care testing in ED triage. Am J Emerg Med 2013;31(2):291-296.
14. Vieth J et al. Anemia. Emerg Med Clin N Am 2014;32:613-628.
15. Figueiredo S et al. How useful are hemoglobin concentration and its variations to predict significant hemorrhage in the early phase of trauma. A multicentric cohort study. Ann Intensive Care 2018;8:76.