Evaluation of the IRMA TRUpoint and i-STAT creatinine assays.

Background: The i-STAT (Abbott Diagnostics, East Windsor, NJ) and IRMA TRUpoint (ITC, Edison, NJ) POCT analyzers were evaluated in an oncology center.

Methods: Precision and agreement with our core laboratory creatinine was judged by comparison of 50 consecutive chemotherapy patient results against the Roche rate-blanked Jaffe and enzymatic creatinine methods. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Cockroft-Gault (CG) calculation and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD) equation.

Reducing medical errors through barcoding at the point of care.

Medical errors are a major concern in health care today. Errors in point-of-care testing (POCT) are particularly problematic because the test is conducted by clinical operators at the site of patient care and immediate medical action is taken on the results prior to review by the laboratory. The Performance Improvement Program at Baystate Health System, Springfield, Massachusetts, noted a number of identification errors occurring with glucose and blood gas POCT devices.