I posted a query on whether clinical staff were using meters or blood
gas analysers for managing tight glycaemic control and got 6 answers
(below).
Our 2 general ITUs, on different sites, have different practices - one
uses the blood gas analyser whenever possible and the other uses meters
only (Abbott Optium). I've advised that they should use one or the
other and shouldn't mix methods for the same patient (which one of the
sisters enquired about - hence my post).
We're in the process of tendering for networked glucose meters and note
that one meter (NOVA Statstrip) has a particularly high precision, which
might be of interest re use for tight glycaemic control.
1. We have just changed from Abbott PCx to Roche b221 Blood gas
analysers.
This is more convenient as they normally take blood from an arterial
line, and measure gases and glucose simultaneously.
I would also expect the results to be more reliable from the blood gas
which is frequently calibrated, and has little operator variation.
2. We use meters. Although the BG analysers have this parameter we
advise that they use meters for this purpose
3. Our ICU are using Blood Gas analyser (ABL) glucose for those
patients
and in fact for all glucoses.
4. Our ITU use glucose meters and venous blood, gas analysers were
deemed not practicable since nurse away from bedside for too long. I'd
be interested in a summary of all the replies that you get.
5. Our ICU department uses the Abbott Medisense PCx networkable glucose
meter,
testing every 1/2 hour, and are quite happy with the results they are
getting. This I am convinced is because they have re-training every
six months (their
own initiative, we normaly recommend 12 months), and there is tight
control
over QC.
6. Our ICU uses glucose meters for such testing (MediSense PCX). ICU
also
has a BGAS glucose electrode for analysis of arterial line samples.
Dr MJ Pearson
Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Immunology
Old Medical School
Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
LEEDS LS1 3EX
UK
tel (44)-[0]113-392-3945
fax (44)-[0]113 392-3453.
http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk
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