Point of Care or Near-patient testing diagnostic techniques allow to approach the laboratory to critical care unit, with the goal of reducing the total response time of the analytical procedure. In this paper, we compare the results obtained in the Point of care equipment (i-STAT and Hemocue) with the common techniques used in the Central Laboratory of the University of Chile Hospital, for the determination of pH, PO2, PCO2, sodium, potassium, hematocrit and hemoglobin. In general, the results obtained in the point of care equipment showed a good correlation respect to the traditional techniques. The measurement of arterial blood gases showed a good correlation between i-STAT and AVL equipment and also for measurement of hemoglobin with Hemocue. The electrolyte analysis by i-STAT equipment also exhibited a good correlation with the traditional method, despite of the measurement of sodium and potassium were performed with whole blood instead of serum like the traditional method. The correlation in the hematocrit/hemoglobin levels by i-STAT were not that good, due probably to difference in the method of detection. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the Point of care techniques constitutes useful tools for physicians in critical care units since they give reliable and rapid results.
Keywords:
Atención Dirigida al Paciente, Técnicas de Laboratorio Clínico, Laboratorios de Hospital, Chile
Aldunate O., J., Vial C., M. J., Tong S., A. M. ., López R., X. ., Cumsille G., F. ., Larrondo L., M. ., Pizarro C., H. ., & Alarcón R., C. . (2006). Experiencia del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile en el Uso de Técnicas de Laboratorio en el Lugar de Atención del Paciente (Point of Care). Revista Hospital Clínico Universidad De Chile, 17(3), pp. 222–8. https://doi.org/10.5354/2735-7996.2006.78253
