POC in a Cancer Center

Our Cancer Centers use the iSTAT Chem8 for BMPs. They added the Piccolo for CMPs. iSTATs have faster TAT than Piccolos for BMPs. The GEM may also be a good fit but it will depend on your test volume. The GEM is a multi-test single cartridge that expires in 30-31 days(??) but if your volume doesn't use all the tests set for that cartridge by in-use exp date you lose what's left. Both iSTAT and GEM have stable test results. The Piccolo can be iffy for Na and Cl at three of our sites.

I have had much better response to the i-STATs for POC testing. Many people have used them in the past and the results are consistent. I agree that the Piccolo is inconsistent for electrolytes, and it also takes >15 min depending on the cartridge.

I think iSTAT Chem8 should be a good fit, unless there's a lot of IV/fluid management being done with this patient population - like any conductivity-based hematocrit-hemoglobin device, significant fluid manipulation can make the results unreliable.  But if that's not the case, I'd say iSTAT should work fine for you.  And if you're not interfacing, at least invest in the Martell (external) receipt printer so you at least have something that could be incorporated into the patient chart - it's inexpensive.