POC Blood Gas

We use the Siemens EPOC analyzers. They are well liked here, we have them in our ED, ORs and the ICU/CTICU. 

We have the Siemens EPOC which I personally like as a Med Tech but as a POC device, some departments get flustered with it. Each time you test a patient, it goes through a 180 sec calibration before you can present a sample and that is a lifetime for our nurses.  Presenting the sample also takes some technique so if the nurses don't use it often, they mess up presenting the sample and they have to start all over (180 more seconds). I think using it in the lab setting with techs running it would be fine because we tend to be much more patient and running it often will help with the technique. I like it because it has the blood gases, metabolites, H/H, Ionized Calcium, and Lactic Acid all on one cartridge. The techs can select which tests they want to use so it is easily customizable for each patient.

We utilize the Abbott i-STAT analyzers on the floors/ICUs/EDs. However,  4 years ago we replaced the Radiometer ABL 800s with the IL/Werfen GEM5000s and are sold over to them! These are operated in three OR depts., L&D, and the PACU units. They perform QC after every patient sample, 150ul, results in 45 seconds, auto-uploads via WiFi or CAT cable (we use WiFI) and monitored remotely by GEMWeb software. We currently have 28 of these and planning more in the future. 

We had the istat CG8 and the Rapid Point 500 but replaced them with the Radiometer ABL90 Flex Plus since the ABL could perform capillary testing in our NICU. There are definite pros and cons for the ABL's but overall they are easy to use and 90% of the staff like them!

Hello Ashlee - We used the RP500e in lab and the i-stat on the floor it worked out perfect. I currently work for Henry Schein as a point of care specialist, and we sell the i-stat - If you are looking for a demo or have any questions about the i-stat let me know.    

Because we're a large system, we use several blood gas solutions. We have both RapidPoint 500e and GEM 5000 (in different systems), and we like both of them. We have i-STATs all over the place for blood gas, and one of our hospitals uses Epoc. One thing to consider is volumes--if the test volumes are low, it is more cost effective to use a hand-held like i-STAT or Epoc, since you only would pay for the test cartridges/cards that you use (and of course QC, competency assessment,  and 6 month studies). A device like GEM, RapidPoint, or ABL90 could mean that you would waste reagent, since the cartridge needs to be changed monthly whether the tests are used or not. The other thing to consider is whether you want cooximetry. The i-STAT and Epoc do not do cooximetry, so if you're using them for blood gas and want cooximetry, you'll have to have a device like the Avox 4000. 

We are happy with our ABL90.  
Pros:  Easy to use; no IQCP; result approval prior to sending to charts; critical result notification documentation; no maintenance; results within 35 seconds; 65 uL of blood; many sample types available; 2 sample modes (syringe & capillary).
Cons:  Sensor Cassette replacement once a month - can take up to 1 hour before the analyzer can be used; some Sensor Cassettes are problematic and require replacement more frequently.  

Our respiratory department uses the Siemens EPOC analyzers as well. The respiratory therapists run the blood gases.