Safer Blood-Gas Analysis System

A new blood-gas analysis system uses automation, information, and sampler technology to help ensure correct sample and patient identification, while increasing operator safety and reducing the time spent on testing.

The system, called 1st automatic, consists of three elements: the prebarcoded safePico blood sampler, the ABL Flex blood gas analyzer with a sampler queue module, and the Flexlink software. With this software, operators can scan or enter their identification, the prebarcoded safePico sampler, and the patient identification. The software links together and stores these three critical identifiers, right at the bedside, reducing the risk of incorrect sample and patient identification. Once the sampler is placed on the analyzer's queue module, the analyzer "recognizes” the unique sampler barcode and retrieves all information associated with it.

Since they are fully automated, the blood-gas measurements are also faster and less error-prone. Up to three samplers can be placed on the analyzer's queue module. Once identified, each sample is automatically mixed and the correctly identified result is then made available to caregivers on their platform of choice: personal digital assistant (PDA), patient monitor, information system, or the analyzer itself.

An onboard safety device on the safePico arterial sampler offers one-hand operation for safe removal of needles, which helps to increase operator safety. Also, operators can use the tip cap to quickly expel all air bubbles and avoid contact with patient blood. 1st automatic was developed by Radiometer A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark).




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