epoc Blood Gas Analyzer PDF

Whether in a traditional environment or point-of-care scenario, blood analysis testing is an important diagnostic tool that measures various aspects of a single blood sample, including oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and pH. These tests are often ordered as a way to evaluate a patient for potential respiratory or breathing-related problems, among others.

Blood analysis can be performed in a laboratory with conventional large laboratory instruments or patient side at the point of care.  The  epoc Blood Analysis System developed by Siemens Healthineers—the primary focus of this article—is a handheld point of care blood analysis system.

Point of care blood gas testing is a versatile tool that doctors and other medical professionals might order to help determine the cause for a patient’s respiratory or metabolic symptoms, among others.

One of the most common use cases for epoc blood analysis relates to blood gas testing, working with patients who may be experiencing symptoms related to respiratory conditions. This might include…

• Evaluating a patient’s oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to learn whether their lungs are effectively delivering oxygen into their blood (and extracting carbon dioxide from it); this can help diagnose chronic respiratory conditions like COPD or asthma.
• Monitoring certain acute respiratory conditions reported by patients, so that appropriate management and treatment options can be considered for potential pneumonia, among other disorders.
• Determining whether a patient is experiencing respiratory failure, including the condition’s severity, in order to develop the appropriate treatment plan.

Blood gas testing is also effective as a means for diagnosing and assessing the severity of certain metabolic conditions—like metabolic acidosis or alkalosis—based on patient symptoms.

While the diagnosis of respiratory and metabolic conditions are the primary use cases for point of care blood analysis, those are not the only applications. Point of care blood analysis may also provide valuable metabolite and electrolyte testing. With this full menu of critical analytes, it also may be ordered in certain critical or emergency situations (like sepsis or cardiac arrest), as part of post-operative or intensive care monitoring, or in the course of providing neonatal and pediatric care.

With a single test card, the Siemens Healthineers epoc blood gas analyzer accurately evaluates patients’ blood gas, electrolyte, and metabolite (BGEM) levels by measuring 13 different analytes. Unlike other testing solutions, you won’t need multiple epoc test cards for a single, comprehensive analysis. The epoc test menu includes the following parameters:

1. pH
2. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂)
3. Partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂)
4. Total carbon dioxide (TCO₂)
5. Sodium
6. Potassium
7. Ionized Calcium
8. Chloride
9. Hematocrit
10. Glucose
11. Lactate
12. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
13. Creatinine

Using a handheld solution like the epoc System provides many advantages over its alternatives—including, among others:

1. Quicker Turnaround Times: When it comes to clinical decision-making, the ability to achieve accurate results with unmatched turnaround times can be the difference between timely interventions and the potential for patients’ symptoms to worsen in the interim. That’s why handheld, portable solutions like the epoc blood gas testing system are such powerful instruments for clinicians. The epoc System is easy to use and provides accurate results in less time than other diagnostic alternatives.

2. Increased Operational Efficiency: In addition to providing quicker turnaround times on a case-by-case basis, integrating the epoc testing system into clinical workflows and procedures increases efficiency on a larger scale. The ability to collect and process samples right at the patient’s bedside saves valuable time while eliminating the need to transport the sample to a lab facility (which is inefficient and can lead to problems with the integrity of collected samples).

3. Reliable Accuracy and Quality: While some providers might be skeptical that a handheld, efficient solution like the epoc testing system can be as accurate as traditional methodologies, it does provide lab-accurate results. You can learn more by reviewing the Summary of Analytical Methods and Performance resource, which offers a point-by-point comparison of testing accuracy for each tested analyte.

4. IT Security: The portability of handheld blood analysis systems—enabled by wireless connections—doesn’t just provide efficiency; it also improves security. The epoc System easily integrates with intuitive data management software (DMS) and hospital information systems (HIS), enabling remote management and quality control. This empowers providers with proactive, secure solutions that protect patient information as well as facilities’ data and systems—all without compromising speed or security.

Another significant advantage of the epoc testing system is that it’s easy to set up, calibrate, and use—helping healthcare providers to make timely, data-informed decisions relating to patient care. An overview of the epoc System can be downloaded here. If you’re looking for in-depth information about how to use the epoc Blood Analysis System, two of the best resources include the epoc System manual and implementation checklist, both of which can be downloaded from the Siemens Healthineers epoc Documentation page.

If you’re looking for quick answers to questions like how to use an epoc machine, how to calibrate the epoc System, or even epoc troubleshooting tips, you can check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Finally, if you need more information about working with the  epoc Blood Analysis System with NXS Host you can find many resources here.

The basic epoc testing process consists of 4 simple steps, described below.

1. Initiate the Test
   Setup is easy! When you need to perform a test, begin by detaching the Host from its Reader and scanning your credentials to authorize access to the system. On returning the Host to the Reader, the system will perform a brief series of internal checks to verify system readiness and functionality.

2. Insert the Test Card and Calibrate the System

   When prompted, insert the Test Card to initiate the system calibration process, which includes checking the Test Card’s expiration date (and replacing it with a valid, new Test Card if necessary). The calibration process takes around 3 minutes, and effectively mitigates potential errors that could lead to the loss of a valuable sample.

   Once the Test Card has been verified and the epoc testing system has been calibrated, the sample can be drawn using either a syringe or epoc Care-Fill™ Capillary Tube.

   In order to protect patient safety and the accuracy of results, the system includes additional features including patient ID verification, automated quality assurance, and simple, efficient workflows. The operator can add to the collected patient information through a series of dropdown menus for inputting settings related to the patient, sample type, and scope of testing.

3. Inject the Sample
   When prompted, inject the sample into the Test Card. This process is guided by visual prompts to ensure proper technique. Once the sample has been added, the system begins its analysis. Within a minute, results will be displayed.

4. Process the Results
   Upon completion of testing, the operator can view the results, including color-coding to indicate critical, out of range, and normal values (if using the epoc NXS Host, in which case the operator will also be prompted to address “critical” results). Despite the quick turnaround time, results provided by the epoc testing system are no less precise than traditional methods.

The epoc Blood Analysis System can utilize several different types of samples, including fresh whole blood and/or fresh whole heparinized blood from arterial, venous, or capillary sources. Regardless of the source type, once a sample is introduced to the test card (more on this below), it is simultaneously processed and analyzed by the epoc machine.

Another advantage of the epoc Blood Analysis System is that it requires a smaller sample size than its alternatives—epoc’s flexible and efficient sample processing means fewer redraws (and fewer delays in treatment). When using the epoc System, you can draw the blood using either a syringe (which requires at least 92 microliters) or epoc Care-Fill™ Capillary Tube (which only requires a 90-microliter sample).

The epoc blood analysis testing system returns lab-accurate results within a minute after the sample is introduced to the test card.

Thanks to its ease of use, efficiency, and ability to deliver lab-accurate results in around a minute from sample application, the epoc blood analysis is well worth the investment. Let’s look at a few of its prime differentiators (vs. more traditional testing systems).

The epoc testing system makes bedside testing a viable and accessible option across a number of different clinical settings. With the epoc System, providers can streamline and consolidate workflows and use a single test card to measure 13 analytes (as well as 18 additional values).

With the epoc System, you can perform testing in as few as 8 steps:

1. Turn on
2. Scan/enter operator ID
3. Insert test card
4. Scan/enter patient ID
5. Enter test parameters
6. Draw blood sample
7. Inject sample
8. Remove test card

In a matter of around 4 minutes, the system’s analysis is completed, and results are automatically transmitted. Other handheld devices, by contrast, typically require 2-3 times as many steps, as well as multiple test cards. With the epoc System, it’s one test (and one test card), and it delivers complete, accurate results in minutes.

Reach out today to learn more about the value the epoc blood analysis solution can bring to your organization.