SJH Emergency Medicine
Contact the POCT team to get training to use the machine. After this you can refresh your memory on how to use the machine by reading the Radiometer ABL90 quick guide.
Blood gas machine
The blood gas machine is an expensive piece of equipment, and users must be trained to operate it. Once training is completed you will get a bar-code to use the machine.
Staff are reminded that codes are not to be shared.
Any staff requiring a code can contact labspoctteam@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk.
Use the following steps, to ensure that any blood analysis result is as accurate as possible, whilst preventing damage to the machine:
- While the machine is easy to use, the main focus with blood gases is the importance of pre analytics.
- Ensure all air is expelled as soon as gas is taken.
- Cap tube while taking to gas machine.
- Mix sample while taking to the gas machine or waiting to use machine, either by rolling between your palms or inverting.
- Expel a little sample before analysing onto a tissue to ensure there are no clots.
- In the laboratory a clotted sample or tube with air in the sample will be rejected, we should be attempting the same standards in Point of Care.
- Please be gentle, there is no need for force and the probe is easily bent. Damage to the machine will mean delays to other patients results.
- Do not share barcodes.