Point of Care Testing

1. Point of Care Testing Induction Welcome

2. Team introduction • Michelle Carter – POCT lead - 57511 • Louisa Dawson – POCT Practitioner - 55250 • Natalie Cartmell- POCT Associate Practitioner • Charlotte Reynolds – POCT Support Worker • Bleep 828

3. What is point of care testing • Pathology performed outside of the conventional laboratory setting • At or near the patient bedside • By clinical staff not Biomedical scientists • POCT allows for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in “real time” rather than waiting for laboratory results. • This can allow a better flow of patients through the hospital • It can also support better patient flow and more timely patient discharges

4. Point of care testing • Would you expect the laboratory to process unlabelled samples ? • Would you expect to receive a report from the laboratory with no patient identifiers on it ? • Would you treat a patient using a pathology report which had no patient identifiers on it ?

5. Point of Care Testing

6. Point of care testing • Would you expect the laboratory to allow untrained staff to process pathology samples and allow these results to be reported for clinical use ?

7. Blood Gas Analysers • Access to the Blood gas analyser is obtained via training with a Key trainer, member of the POCT team or Werfen • Training takes approximately half an hour and comprises of theory, competency questions and a practical assessment • Do not attempt to access the analysers until you have a login of your own – Do not ask anyone for their barcode in order to process a blood gas sample • Password sharing is a breech of trust policy and is also against the law under the computer misuse Act 1990

8. Blood Gas Analysers… Locations • A&E – Gem 4000 x2 • AMU – Gem 4000 x1 • WARD 10 – Gem 4000 x1 • General theatres - Gem 4000 x1 • Critical care - Gem 4000 1 per ward (ITU/HDU) • CITU – Gem 4000 x 2 • Cardiac Theatres -Gem 4000 x 4 • NNU – Gem 4000 x1 • Delivery suite – Gem 4000 x1 • Cath Labs – Opti x1

9. Key trainers • A&E – Becky Ashford • AMU – See POCT team • Ward 10 – John Ramsdale- Walsh • General Theatres – Carl Mauback, Nikki Gelling, Caroline Dempsey • Critical Care – Lianne Harrison, Andrew Henson • CITU – Clare Hassall • Cardiac Theatres – Julie Johnson, Carly Tipping • NNU – Rosie Milbourn, Sarah Steward • Delivery Suite – Clare Harrison • Cath Labs – Karen Jackson (Opti blood gas analyser only)

10. Blood gas analysis • Always ensure that you use a heparinised syringe or capillary tube • Ensure that any air/bubbles are expelled and you cap the syringe or capillary tube • All samples must be labelled at the patient bedside (sticker is acceptable) • Gently and Continuously mix your sample until analysis • Always use your own login details

11. Blood gas ANALYSIS • Do not allow any other operator to use your login • You are legally responsible for any activity performed under your login, irrespective of whether you were involved or not • POCT blood gas analysers are to be used only by the department in which it is situated • If your analyser is experiencing down time (i.e. the cartridge is being changed) then you may use the next nearest analyser (make sure you identify yourself to the ward as you arrive)

12. Blood gas Analysis • Ensure that you enter full patient demographics (Hospital Number, full name, DOB, Gender) • Do not make up hospital numbers or use 000000 /123245/99999 • The Blood gas analysers are supported by an ADT feed so miss-matches and incorrect details are all logged and actioned by the POCT team. • Deliberate failure to enter correct patient demographics and /or password sharing will result in operators being deactivated from using the analyser and a review into the incident will be performed • If you have a genuine case where a blood gas sample is required before a patient has been admitted on the system, then an unknown patient form should be used to maintain the audit trail of the sample - this will be covered in training.

13. Useful information • Blood gas training will be offered to you all in early October, if you have not already received this • You will also receive training for the Glucose and Ketone meters on the same day. • Please do not hesitate to contact the team if we can support you with any POCT queries. • Please visit our SharePoint site for further information.

14. Any Questions ?