Blood Gas Analysis
Instrumentation Laboratory, Lexington, Mass, introduces the GEM® Premier™ 3000, a blood gas, electrolyte, glucose, lactate, and hematocrit analyzer. The system features state-of-the-art planar sensors and a standardized testing platform for all hospital locations. Its proprietary, cartridge-based technology is easy to use. Each cartridge contains sensors, solutions, gases, pump tubing, and a waste container. Users simply change the cartridge every 3 weeks. The company has enhanced the capabilities of GEM Premier 3000 with the addition of the Intelligent Quality Management (iQM™) onboard quality management system. iQM delivers automatic, continuous, real-time quality control. (800) 955-9525; www.ilus.com.
The Stat Profile® Critical Care Xpress stat analyzer from Nova Biomedical, Waltham, Mass, provides a comprehensive test menu consisting of 19 measured and 29 calculated tests. The compact instrument measures blood gases, electrolytes, chemistry, hematology, and co-oximetry. Measured tests include pH, PCO2, PO2, SO2%, hematocrit and hemoglobin, sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, ionized magnesium, glucose, BUN, creatinine, lactate, deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, and carboxyhemoglobin. Customizable menus include blood gases only and blood gases/co-oximetry. Integrated onboard data management software architecture allows custom configuration of touch-screen layouts, data capture and report formats, security options, and QC processes. (800) 458-5813; www.novabiomedical.com.
Weighing just over a pound, the i-STAT system by i-Stat Corp, East Windsor, NJ, can be transported anywhere patient care is needed. In a recent study conducted among respiratory care professionals, nearly 80% of respondents indicated that “performing ABG testing at the patient’s bedside would help me to give better care to my patients.” The disposable cartridges can perform a panel of tests in addition to ABG measurements, providing accurate information in minutes. Results can be retrieved for viewing on the LCD, printed for inclusion in the patient’s chart, or downloaded to the Central Data Station and the hospital’s LIS/HIS system. (609) 443-9300; www.i-stat.com.
Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, offers the OMNI series ranging from basic to high-end blood gas analyzers (OMNI 1-9 and OMNI C). Comprised of standard benchtop analyzers, the OMNI series is appropriate for small to large hospitals that require traditional, upgradeable blood gas analysis systems. The systems can be configured to meet the needs of any hospital, enabling health care professionals to maximize operational efficiency and control costs. The OMNI systems incorporate complete IT solutions, the OMNILINK remote instrument manager, and the DataCare patient data management system. (800) 428-5074; www.us.labsystems.roche.com.
Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc, Hercules, Calif, introduces Liquichek™ Blood Gas Plus CO-Oximeter Control (IL Synthesis Series) to the Bio-Rad Blood Gas Quality Control product line. Liquichek is a multi-constituent control for monitoring the precision and measurements of pH, pCO2, pO2, electrolytes, glucose, total hemoglobin, and hemoglobin fractions on IL Synthesis instruments. These ready-to-use controls are supplied as liquid, and each level is individually packaged with 30 x 1.7 mL ampules. The controls have a 3-year shelf life when stored at 2°C to 8°C or a 6-month shelf life when stored at 20°C to 25°C. The UNITY™ Quality Control Program is available through the life of the lot. An optional QC OnCall™ complete data management software system is also available. (800) 224-6723; www.bio-rad.com.
The ABL™700 Series blood gas analyzers by Radiometer America Inc, Westlake, Ohio, reduce the number of steps required to obtain and process test results while increasing testing accuracy. With the ABL700’s onboard data management capabilities, the patient ID is entered automatically with a bar-code reader. The ABL700 software automatically retrieves patient demographic data, eliminating the risk of transcription errors. Results are automatically saved and reported via printout or patient monitor. Clinical approval of the results may be made directly at the analyzer and then transmitted to the HIS/LIS. (800) 736-0600; www.radiometeramerica.com.
