To ensure complete POCT CPA compliance, Horiba Medical has installed an ABX Pentra 60C+ benchtop haematology analyser and Pentra Safe solution at Watford General Hospital.
Meeting CPA (Clinical Pathology Accreditation) requirements, the Pentra Safe solution enables full audit trails, remote monitoring and ensures secure access to the analyser through password protection.
The staff in the accident and emergency department are running up to 80 samples a day on the new system, taking pressure off the busy central laboratory and meeting recommended four-hour targets for accident and emergency patients.
POC (point of care) haematology analysis has been available at Watford General Hospital's accident and emergency department for 10 years.
However, following a CPA audit it was agreed a POC analyser able to deliver full audit trails was required to ensure complete CPA compliance.
'In order for our POC haematology analysis to be fully CPA compliant we had to make some changes,' said Jo Nicholson, special haematology section manager at Watford General Hospital.
'We needed an analyser that would provide comparable results to the laboratory with a five-part differential.
'We also needed a system that would link with the laboratory information systems and keep a record of all results.
'Finally, we required password protection and user ID so that we could track and manage operators and ensure only trained personnel were using the analyser,' she added.
Horiba Medical's technical team began developing a solution to address the POCT CPA requirements.
'We had been working in partnership with our customers in a variety of POC settings to trial a new solution for POCT providing password protection, remote monitoring and full audit,' explains Simon Aylen, technical support specialist at Horiba Medical - UK.
'As a result of this evaluation programme we launched the Pentra Safe solution for Horiba Medical CPA-compliant haematology and clinical chemistry analysis, providing remote bidirectional access with user ID, password protection and full audit trails.
'Our objectives were to ensure quality results and patient safety wherever our analysers were placed outside of central hospital laboratories.
'Together, the ABX Pentra 60C+ haematology analyser and the Pentra Safe solution enable full POCT CPA compliance,' he added.
