Roche has revealed that Peterborough District Hospital and Peterborough Maternity Unit have installed seven Cobas b 221 blood gas analysers to improve point-of-care testing.
The systems will enable the hospitals to extend their point-of-care (POC) testing capabilities to include rapid electrolytes, metabolites and bilirubin testing, in addition to blood gases.
The extended parameters on the Cobas b 221 POC systems have allowed the hospitals to replace a separate bilirubinometer machine on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), to introduce POC lactate testing in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and to roll out electrolyte testing to more ward-based machines.
Prior to selecting the Cobas b 221 POC systems, the clinical chemistry department reviewed several different blood gas analysers for their technical ability.
The decision-making process included feedback from clinical staff that assessed the operation and functionality.
The Cobas b 221 POC systems were selected for their ease-of-use and reliability, as well as the training, service and support package provided by Roche.
Each Cobas b 221 analyser is in a different location, with one each in the laboratory, the ICU, the accident and emergency department, the SCBU, the delivery suite, the admissions ward and a respiratory ward.
Despite the distance between the systems, connectivity via the Cobas bge link software POC Data Management solution allows the laboratory to keep a close watch on the performance of the analysers.
David Church, head of the emergency laboratory and senior biomedical scientist responsible for point-of-care testing at the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We particularly liked the improved Cobas bge link software, which allows us to monitor all the ward-based machines.
'We also like the security features on the Cobas b 221, which ensure safe and appropriate use of the machines.
'We have issued personal barcodes for each trained user, which is co-ordinated centrally.
'Laboratory and ward staff only have access to their respective machines when they have received the relevant training and access is blocked to non-trained staff,' he added.
The advanced technology, multiple system functions and user-friendly interface of the cobas b 221 make it ideal for point-of-care testing, providing accurate diagnostic data quickly and reliably to the point where it is urgently required.
