Excessive blood collection for lab tests in critically ill patients is known to be a significant cause of severe anemia and increased use of blood products. This, in turn, leads to longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates. Now, a novel blood gas analyzer featuring a micro capillary sample mode provides a major blood-saving benefit for the diagnostic testing of critically ill patients.

Nova Biomedical (Waltham, MA, USA) has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for a micro capillary sample mode on its Stat Profile Prime Plus Critical Care analyzer. This new feature allows Prime Plus to perform an 11-test panel using only 90 microliters of capillary blood. Alternatively, a comprehensive 22-test profile can be done with just 135 microliters of blood. This sampling mode enhances Prime Plus's existing capabilities for conserving blood during diagnostic testing and is now a standard feature on all Prime Plus analyzers.

The Stat Profile Prime Plus boasts a state-of-the-art test menu for critical care, featuring a range of tests including pH, PCO2, PO2, SO2%, Na, K, iCa, iMg, Cl, TCO2, glucose, lactate, creatinine, urea, hematocrit, hemoglobin, MCHC, estimated plasma volume, CO-Oximetry panel, and 34 calculated results. The simple, compact analyzer uses maintenance-free, replaceable cartridges for sensors and reagents, along with patented, maintenance-free, whole blood CO-Oximetry technology. The device's ability to use small-volume microcapillary blood collection tubes eliminates sample over-draws, dead volume, and waste typically associated with syringe or vacuum tube methods. Moreover, Prime Plus allows for scheduled bundling of tests, reducing the number of times blood needs to be drawn as well as the variety of containers used, thereby minimizing blood drawn for critical care testing.

"Prime Plus microsample volume and comprehensive test menu provide a major blood-saving benefit for diagnostic testing of critically ill patients,” said Terry Austin, Sales Product Line Manager for Prime Plus analyzer. “Prime Plus delivers gases, electrolytes, glucose, lactate, hematocrit, or any subset of these tests on just two drops (90 microliters) of blood. A basic metabolic panel of electrolytes, glucose, lactate, creatinine, urea, and hematocrit is available on 135 microliters, 1/50th the volume of blood needed for the same tests in the central laboratory." 

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