During diagnosis and treatment of acute diseases, fast and easy access to blood testing is integral to ensure a transparent and successful outcome. Analysis of arterial blood gas aids in establishing acid-base balance as well as the status of oxygenation.
Therefore, it plays a key role in today's evidence-based treatment procedures employed in critical care setting.
In addition to this, analyzers for critical care testing can help in assessing cardiac biomarkers, inflammation markers like C-reactive protein, electrolyte and the creatinine level for renal function.
The acute care testing handbook by Radiometer provides a brief summary of the range of parameters rendered by advanced instruments, explaining the pathophysiology and physiological role of each parameter along with examples of reference intervals.
It also includes the probable causes that contribute to abnormalities and provides rapid access to critical information, all of which is demonstrated with key lists, and tables with vivid presentations.
A supplement to detailed text books, the handbook serves as a reference guide to certain types of blood tests and helps streamline the decision-making process of healthcare providers.
It also assists other medical professionals, including nurses, residents and students, by providing immediate reminders of critical clinical facts. Therefore, such professionals can benefit considerably from this handbook, as they are required to understand the different dimensions of blood tests within the critical care setting.
A glimpse into acute care testing
The topics in this handbook cover many factors involved in acute care testing. It begins with oxygen status, which involves uptake, transport, and delivery of oxygen; lactate and tissue oxygenation; and systematic evaluation of the patient's oxygen status.
Next come the physiological significance of oxygen partial pressure (pO2), causes and symptoms of hypoxemia and hyperoxemia; structure and function of hemoglobin (Hb), causes and symptoms of increased and decreased concentration of total hemoglobin (ctHb); causes and symptoms of decreased oxygen saturation (sO2); decreased fraction of oxyhemoglobin (FO2Hb) and decreased oxygen content (ctO2).
This is followed by interpretation of p50 values, examples of reference interval p50; oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, causes of increased and decreased p50; definition of methemoglobin (MetHb) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) along with examples of reference intervals of MetHb and shunt.
Other topics covered are pH and acid-base status; carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2); concept and clinical significance of Anion Gap (AG), with reference interval examples of AG, as well as causes of increased and decreased AG.
Information is also given on distribution and physiological importance of potassium (K+) along with causes and symptoms of hypokalemia and hyperkalemia; significance of sodium (Na+) with causes and symptoms of hyponatremia and hypernatremia along with a special note on pseudohypo- and pseudohypernatremia.
Chloride (Cl–); ionized calcium (Ca2+); and glucose are covered in detail. Complete information is also given on lactate; measurement and interpretation of bilirubin along with treatment for jaundice / hyperbilirubinemia in newborns; creatinine; cardiac troponins (cTnI and cTnT); natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP); D-dimer; C-reactive protein (CRP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its variant.
Search in 500 scientific articles and abstracts on acute care testing
The Radiometer sponsored scientific site Acutecaretesting.org has been covering topics in acute care testing since October 2002 and now offers a base of 500 pieces of scientific reading with new articles and abstracts added four times a year.
Articles are written by international experts and healthcare professionals from around the world and cover topics such as blood gas, cardiac markers, point-of-care testing, process optimization, preanalytical errors and other topics related to acute care testing.
In June 2016, the Acutecaretesting.org was relaunched with a fresh new design and improved features the site which will make it easier for you to find articles on the topics you want to read about. For example, you'll no longer have to log on to the site to read articles, as you can access all the content on the site at any time.
Also, articles are easier to read on your favorite device – desktop, tablet or smartphone.
Check out the new Acutecaretesting.org.
Radiometer provides a comprehensive product portfolio to meet the needs of acute care diagnostics in blood sampling, blood gas analysis, immunoassay testing, transcutaneous monitoring and related IT management systems.
With more than 2,700 employees worldwide and direct representation in 32 countries, Radiometer's products and solutions are used in hospitals, clinics and laboratories in over 130 countries, to provide information on the most critical parameters in acute care testing.
Find out more about Radiometer.
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