iSTAT quality check codes
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Is anyone else within the last couple months had an increase in the number of quality check codes? We've been seeing a huge jump - specifically those in the "30" range - underfilled, overfilled, cannot position. I can find no pattern - it's all meters, all lot numbers, all cartridge types. And I'm getting contacted by operators that have been doing this a long time, no history of errors and it's getting on their nerves! Wondering if it's a manufacturing issue but tech support is going to want specifics and I can't give them that. We've had no issues with LQC.
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Danyel,
We were having problems in December and I did an alcohol clean on the meters and (knock on wood) haven't had any issues since.
We having horrible issue also in my CATHLAB. ACT-K cartridges would not run at all. Abbott send me a new ISTAT. The new ISTAT worked fine but then the temporary one I gave them and the other permanent ISTAT wouldn't run. We were blowing thru cartridges like crazy not getting any result and the frustration just grew and grew. Finally I contacted our old POCC and asked her if she had seen this issue. She told me that in the winter the ISTATs tend to get an electron build up on the Pins inside the device. She told me to condition the pins and run the simulator. The issue in the Cathlab resolved. I'm seeing them increase in the ED so I'm going to go condition their pins. Hope this helps.
Kammy - that is interesting. It wouldn't explain all my issues last spring/summer but I'll give it a try now since we're in the dead of winter now!
Im new to the group. We are planning to acquire iStat. Any recommendations? Pointers?
Thanks a lot
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How do you condition the pins?
There is a specific conditioning cartridge purchased
Kathy Andrews
MLT, RT
Point of Care Coordinator /
Coordinatrice des Analyses Hors Laboratoire
Moncton & Miramichi Area /
Régions de Moncton et Miramichi
Horizon Health Network / Reseau de Sante Horizon
Tel: (506)-857-5315 Fax: (506) 857-5325
kathy.andrews@horizonnb.ca
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
From: Louise Watts via POCT Listserv (Groupsite) [mailto:users+1237526@poct.groupsite.com]
Sent: January-13-20 3:06 PM
To: Andrews, Kathy (LAB) (HorizonNB)
Subject: [POCT Listserv] Re: iSTAT quality check codes
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Louise: Ceramic conditioning cartridge can be obtained from Abbott and follow instruction from their operator manual to run it. Basically you would run electronic simulator 1x then use ceramic conditioning cartridge 2x as an electronic simulator and mark on the usage log.
Jose: Try exploring EPOC, heard good things about it less error that I-STAT may be!
To All: I cover NNICU and the cartridge error list is always a long list. I had been doing ceramic conditioning only on analyzer errors like code 23 or 27 but not on other user errors. I am going to do ceramic now on all error types hopefully that will reduce errors.
Danyl: Yah no issues when doing LQC or Calibration but operators have issues always. So I have been thinking it is the operator who runs in different circumstances like busy day, critical situation or short draws.
Re: Abbott i-STAT Ceramic Conditioning Cartridge: there are specific Quality Codes where the remedy is to use the Ceramic Conditioning Cartridge: re: i-STAT System Manual...search: Ceramic. I say this because upon my first encounter with Code 23, etc., I asked tech support if I should use the conditioning cartridge preemptively on analyzers not yet generating similar Quality Check codes. Tech support said no, only test after such codes are generated, and only test if indicated in the Check code explanation (or remedy).
Thank you Sabindra.
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Jose,
What departments will you using the iStats and what cartridges?
Louise,
Pin Conditioning is done with a special ceramic pin conditioning device that looks like a iStat cartridge made of metal. It uses a piece of ceramic to "condition" the pins.
IStat manual has a procedure for performing it. Some of my high cartridge uses areas, I have to perform twice a year.
It will be for labor and delivery unit just in case the committee will approve.
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