Point-of-care testing apparatus. Measurement of coagulation.
Point-of-care testing of coagulation parameters provides a more rapid assessment of test results compared with laboratory testing. A new coagulation monitor (GEM PCL, Instrumentation Laboratory, Kirchheim, Germany) was evaluated. Point-of-care data for activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time (expressed as the international normalised ratio) and turn-around-time were compared. Coagulation parameters were compared in the blood of 57 patients with and without heparin therapy. The point-of-care and laboratory test results showed a bias (SD) of -0.26 (4.55) s for activated partial thromboplastin time and -0.011 (0.150) s for prothrombin time. The average turn-around-time was 3 min for point-of-care testing vs. 52 min for laboratory testing. We conclude that the reliability of point-of-care testing is sufficient for clinical use.
Hirsch
J
J
Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Teaching Hospital of the Free University of Berlin, Warener Str. 7, 12683 Berlin, Germany.
Wendt
T
T
Kuhly
P
P
Schaffartzik
W
W
D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006405:Hematology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D006493:Heparin