Point-of-Care Measurements on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Using the OMNI-S Blood Gas Analyzer

Abstract

Abstract

Near-patient testing of blood sugar, bilirubin, and hematocrit (Hct) has been performed for many years on neonatal intensive care units. The aim of this study was to compare traditional measurements using Ascensia Elite XL Blood Glucometers, bilimeters, and Hct readers with the Roche OMNI-S analyzer. Simultaneous blood samples were collected for gas machine analysis (maximum, 200 μL) and centrifuged capillary samples (150 μL) for standard analysis. Between 80 and 168 measurements were each made of serum bilirubin (n = 113), Hct (n = 168), glucose (n = 100), sodium (n = 81), and potassium (n = 80) and compared on the OMNI-S analyzer. The correlation coefficients (r) were the following: bilirubin, 0.98; Hct, 0.85; glucose, 0.91; sodium, 0.83; potassium, 0.80. The slope of the regression lines were the following: bilirubin, 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-0.99); Hct, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.90-1.07); glucose, 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95); sodium, 0.78 (95% CI, 0.67-0.94); potassium, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.92-1.14). There was excellent agreement between the Roche OMNI-S analyzer and traditional measurement systems used on the unit; the system can be used to accurately measure bilirubin, Hct, and glucose and gives a good reflection of serum electrolytes in our patient population. The use of a single system simplifies staff training and equipment maintenance and reduces running costs and volumes of blood samples.