POCT Certificate Program

Hi Beth,

I don't know how to set up shared drives between facilities so call me clueless (and note to study groupees: I'm not going to volunteer for topics related to IT! haha).

Maybe a google doc to post readings? resources?

My institution has put our TEG 6s validation on hold due to TEGMEG IT issues.  However, we have been discussing doing a correlation between the two platforms as well.  My medical director requested a physician from the vendor to contact him to discuss this further.  I am not sure they have yet.  But yesterday I received this email from the sales rep:  

"I wanted to share with you an attachment regarding a customer who is looking to correlate the 5000 with the 6s.  This is from Katie Tippet, our Director of NA for TEG Clinical.  I hope this is helpful!  Please reach out with any questions.  Have a great day! 

I understand a customer was inquiring about our interpretation and guidance for correlation of the two different platforms we offer for TEG testing.  As you discussed with them, we use two different methods to test whole blood with these platforms, and the variables reported for assays are different, with different reference ranges and reportable ranges.  Therefore, I have placed below the CAP statement below on correlation of instruments, and have highlighted (with our interpretation inserted) of why correlation may not be necessary.  Of course, the lab medical director is the ultimate decision maker on what is best for their lab and to maintain compliance, and of course as you know accrediting body requirements differ by accrediting body, and interpretation of the requirements can vary by site.

 One thing to keep in mind- if your facility is looking to use our two TEG platforms "interchangeable"...meaning, if the 6s is down or busy, they could use the TEG 5000 (albeit for platelet mapping this would not work given they would need a different/additional tube, and for global hemostasis they would have to run 4 assays instead of the one or two they are used to running today, and the ranges and reported variables would be different), then perhaps they WOULD want to correlate to show interchangeability.  However, if they are defining a protocol for use and defined areas and orders to use what assay and platform when, then the correlation need, in my interpretation below as they outline clearly with the aPTT example, becomes unnecessary."

 A side from what the company states, we are still concerned that physicians will question the result differences in the two platforms.  The last time we discussed this with the department we were still interested in learning the bias to at least be able to confirm with physicians that our testing is reliable.