Lab Values in the ICU

We use them but only for specific patients, mainly ECMO and sometimes CRRT, new MCS devices, etc. In general we use the central lab and our ABG lab.

Thanks, I'm trying to push istat to the ICU where I work. I hate waiting for 30 min to get results on critical patients.

We use them all the time.

In the ICU? And what kind or brand of the analyzer? How quick are the results?

We used iSTAT in our peds ICU. Results are 1-2 minutes.

We use iSTAT, I'm not sure how many other approved devices exist, iSTAT is the only POC tester I've heard of that can do a variety of labs. Results take less than a few minutes. If you get your labs results from central lab typically in 30 minutes then that's not too bad, we get some results from central lab in 30 minutes, but typically it's closer to an hour or more. Outside of the designated patients we can use it for, we can use it only if there's a clear benefit in terms of outcomes, the first sodium check after initiating treatment for hyponatremia for instance.

There are some silly hoops to jump through, the College of Pathologists which is involved in accrediting labs, doesn't seem to like that staff nurses are intruding into their territory and have come up with some odd requirements. We all had to submit copies of our high school diplomas (they wouldn't accept a college degree as proof we graduated from high school) to get signed off on iSTATS because the College of Pathologists required this specifically.

Abbott Point of Care | i-STAT System & Piccolo Xpress

We have an ISTAT for our ICU, but not all of our nurses are checked off on using them, and we really only use them in emergent situations.

I've been out of the ICU for a few years, but we used iStat for blood gases only...and maybe lactates if I remember correctly.

I believe there is also a reimbursement issue. Can't bill the patient/insurance the same for a POC test as a test sent to the lab. That was a reason given to me for why the hospital preferred that labs be sent downstairs except in the most time-sensitive cases.

We use iSTAT, I'm not sure how many other approved devices exist, iSTAT is the only POC tester I've heard of that can do a variety of labs. Results take less than a few minutes. If you get your labs results from central lab typically in 30 minutes then that's not too bad, we get some results from central lab in 30 minutes, but typically it's closer to an hour or more. Outside of the designated patients we can use it for, we can use it only if there's a clear benefit in terms of outcomes, the first sodium check after initiating treatment for hyponatremia for instance.

There are some silly hoops to jump through, the College of Pathologists which is involved in accrediting labs, doesn't seem to like that staff nurses are intruding into their territory and have come up with some odd requirements. We all had to submit copies of our high school diplomas (they wouldn't accept a college degree as proof we graduated from high school) to get signed off on iSTATS because the College of Pathologists required this specifically.

Abbott Point of Care | i-STAT System & Piccolo Xpress

They had a problem with me 'cause my high school transcripts were in cuneiform.