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torians, and to ensure that they are met. Additionally, non-laboratorian staff trained on POCT methods must be monitored following the trainings in order to insure their competency with the tests. Training a diverse non-laboratorian staff (including MDs, RNs and RTs) across multiple shifts, instruments, methods, and then monitoring their competency over time is a formidable task which increases with each test introduced and with department size. It is easier to decentralize the test itself than it is to decentralize the specialized laboratory knowledge and training that goes with each test.

Lack of adequate documentation may be considered another drawback to POCT. Results from POCT devices usually appear on a screen with temporary printouts available. Those results may get mishandled or misplaced and never find their way into the patient's permanent medical record. This lack of documentation may also have an affect on potential reimbursement issues.

As health-care providers must consider each advantage and disadvantage to POCT, its technology continues to develop. The analyzers are getting faster, smaller, easier to use, and show the ability to perform accurate testing with smaller blood samples. Radiometer America, Westlake, OH, manufactures one such model, called the 1st automatic blood gas analysis system. The system combines instruments, samplers and information technology to reduce the steps in the analytical process, improve patient and operator safety, and minimize errors. It consists of the safePICO pre-barcoded arterial sampler that helps to remove air bubbles and avoid contact with patient blood while reducing the risk of needlesticks with an onboard safety device; FLEXLINK software to help ensure correct sample, patient, and operator identification; and the FLEXQ module on the ABL800 FLEX analyzer to help reduce errors through automatic identification and mixing of samples.

Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, produces the widel
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