ABSTRACT
The impressive development of the clinical laboratory network of the HCUCH has forced a complete protocol revision, specially directed towards the procedures involved in way the biological samples are obtained. This includes the selection of the tubes used. In this sense, the use in the different centers of SS tubes, which stands for serum separating tubes, was evaluated. The SS tubes consist of a gel that which after centrifugation separates the thrombotic and serum phases, forming an impermeable barrier in between. Before its onset, is necessary to compare with the aid of the bio-statistical parameter of correlation coefficient both the biochemical and hormonal measurements obtained through the use of the typical tubes (containing heparin or without anticoagulant reactive) and those of the SS tubes. The determinations included 27parameters, consistent of biochemical, electrolytic and hormonal measurements. The data collected was tabulated and afterwards the statistical analysis was performed, considering correlation and concordance, and then the interclass Correlation coefficient (ICC) was applied. The concordance study concluded that 26 of the 27 evaluated parameters have a value of ICC between 0.858 and 1.0, Only the direct bilirrubin showed a low ICC (0.08), possibly, it must be considered the low values of it found in the samples, and therefore to make the result to significant the evaluation has to be made among a greater number of samples. In summary, the results supported the adoption of tubes SS for the clinical laboratories processes, since these threw equivalent and trustworthy results compared with the conventional tubes for the medical studied with advantages in operator protection and samples transport.
Subject(s)
Humans , Plastic Bags for Blood Preservation , Blood Specimen Collection/classification , Blood Specimen Collection/statistics & numerical data , Blood Specimen Collection/trends , Blood Specimen CollectionABSTRACT
La tecnología de Point of Care o Near-patient testing, permite acercar el laboratorio a las áreas asistenciales críticas, las cuales requieren minimizar al máximo el tiempo de respuesta en la obtención del resultado para la toma de decisiones. En este trabajo se presenta la correlación entre los equipos de Point of Care (i-STAT y HemoCue), respecto de las técnicas habituales utilizadas en el Laboratorio Central del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, para los parámetros pH, PO2, PCO2, sodio (Na+), potasio (K+), hematocrito y hemoglobina. Los resultados obtenidos en los equipos Point of Care evaluados muestran una adecuada confiabilidad respecto de los métodos tradicionales utilizados en el Hospital. La determinación de gases sanguíneos, evidenció una muy buena correlación entre los equipos i-STAT y AVL, como para la determinación de hemoglobina en equipo HemoCue y Celldyn 3700. Los resultados obtenidos de electrolitos en el equipo i-STAT e Hitachi 912 igualmente se relacionan bien, a pesar de que las mediciones de sodio y potasio en i-stat fueron realizadas en sangre completa y la técnica tradicional, Hitachi 912, utiliza suero. Las correlaciones en las determinaciones de hematocrito y hemoglobina al utilizar el equipo i-STAT, no fueron tan óptimas, debido probablemente a diferencias en las metódicas de detección. Los resultados obtenidos nos hace concluir que las técnicas de Point of Care constituyen herramientas útiles para los médicos de las unidades críticas, ya que entregan resultados de laboratorio confiables y oportunos.
Point of Care or Near-patient testing diagnostic techniques allow to approach the laboratory to critical care unit, with the goal of reducing the total response time of the analytical procedure. In this paper, we compare the results obtained in the Point of care equipment (i-STAT and Hemocue) with the common techniques used in the Central Laboratory of the University of Chile Hospital, for the determination of pH, PO2, PCO2, sodium, potassium, hematocrit and hemoglobin. In general, the results obtained in the point of care equipment showed a good correlation respect to the traditional techniques. The measurement of arterial blood gases showed a good correlation between i-STAT and AVL equipment and also for measurement of hemoglobin with Hemocue. The electrolyte analysis by i-STAT equipment also exhibited a good correlation with the traditional method, despite of the measurement of sodium and potassium were performed with whole blood instead of serum like the traditional method. The correlation in the hematocrit/hemoglobin levels by i-STAT were not that good, due probably to difference in the method of detection. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the Point of care techniques constitutes useful tools for physicians in critical care units since they give reliable and rapid results.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Patient-Centered Care/trends , Patient-Centered Care , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Laboratories, Hospital , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/trends , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , ChileABSTRACT
To diagnose the incidence of orchidopexy versus age over a 15-year period, a study was conducted of all patients discharged from a single institution for orchidopexy with reference to age during operation. The hypothesis drawn was that some boys have acquired UDT and therefore, will present late despite recommendations for early diagnosis and treatment. The study was conducted on patients from Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (1980-94). The results suggested that while the optimal age for management of congenital UDT has been lowered to one to two years of age by under-graduate education, the persistence of a significant number of older children undergoing surgery suggests that some UDT's are acquired. It also showed that the proportion of orchidopexies performed in infancy increased over the 15-year period while the proportion performed in late childhood remained constant.
Subject(s)
Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Cryptorchidism/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Male , Testis/surgery , Victoria/epidemiologyABSTRACT
1,366 samples of soil and water from southern China coastal provinces were examined for Pseudomonas pseudomallei. Data showed that 58 samples were positive for this bacteria, which is primarily distributed in Hainan Province and the coastal region of mainland. This paper confirmed the environmental presence of P. pseudomallei in China and showed that the distribution of this pathogen has at least reached a latitude of 25.5 degrees north.
Subject(s)
Agriculture , Animals , Biological Assay , Burkholderia pseudomallei/isolation & purification , China , Guinea Pigs , Oryza , Rabbits , Soil Microbiology , Water MicrobiologyABSTRACT
A case-control study was carried out to identify risk factors of injury in 200 children (mean age 6.68 +/- 3.9 years) attending the Emergency Room, Ramathibodi Hospital from April to August 1987. Traffic and falls were the most common causes of injuries in all age groups. Falls, traffic and sport injuries were responsible for the age-specific injury in infants, 1-10 years and more than 10 year-old children respectively. Most of the injuries occurred at home and on the street, during school term, working day, and between 3-8 pm. Twenty two percent of them needed hospitalization. Another 200 patients, matched sex and age range (mean age 6.38 +/- 3.8 year) from the general out patient department were selected as controls. Parents or care providers were interviewed. The result showed that boys, children older than 6 years of age not attending school, higher rank of order of the child in the family, large family size, the more care providers at the time, parental education lower than primary school level and low family income were risk factors of injury in these children (OR = 1.8, 2.4, 1.6-2.7, 1.7-3.3, 6.2, 2.1, 1.8 and 2.4 respectively).