ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: OCT(Point-of-Care Test), often translated as "Bedside laboratory", is a testing method used in most developed countries to conduct medical research. It is known to extract rapid results that can be applied in the intensive care unit. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation of the i-STAT(TM) POCT analyzer with the traditional test in the neonatal intensive care units. METHODS: 60 babies(birth weight > or =1.0kg) who were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit from June, 2000 to June, 2001 at Asan Medical Center requiring blood samples for the testing of arterial blood gas analysis(ABGA), electrolytes, hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), were included in the study. Blood samples were taken simultaneously to be tested by the traditional laboratory method and by i-STAT(TM) (i-STAT Co. USA) POCT analyzer. The data used for comparison analyzation included pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, Na, K, Hb, and Hct. RESULTS: 245 measurements of ABGA and 195 measurements of Na, K, Hb, Hct from 60 babies were used for comparison. Good correlation of data was found between i-STAT(TM) POCT analyzer and traditional laboratory method obtained from the central laboratory(correlation coefficient: pH 0.954, pCO2 0.944, pO2 0.941, HCO3 0.880, Na 0.713, K 0.860, Hb 0.864, Hct 0.880). CONCLUSION: This study showed that i-STAT(TM) POCT analyzer provided accurate analytic results when compared with traditional laboratory method used in the neonatal intensive care units.