POC Blood Gas Instruments: ABL90 vs. Gem 5000

I work at a site with 25 facilities, and our final site is swapping to the GEMs this year. We currently are updating many sites from the 5000 to the 7000. The 7000s offer hemolysis index if you offer electrolyte testing with your blood gases. All controls and calibrators are included in the cartridge that is used for testing. And there is no IQCP - which is a huge plus. 

We have had the Radiometers replaced since 2017 in all of the ORs....we now have 32 GEM5000s and they are tremendous. The QC is run after every sample so accuracy is assured. We have had to add them to PACU, Pre/Post OP, IR, Endo, and Peds Cardiac ICU. The only drawback is they are not set up to do capillary specimens though they only require 150 ul.

I wasn't aware about the GEMs not taking capillary samples. Thank you for that info! Our NICU uses primarily capillary BG samples, so that would be a concern for us.

I have heard that the GEMs are better overall in terms of less maintenance and troubleshooting. Right now with the ABL90s, our POC team feels like we are almost constantly having to troubleshoot these instruments.

They are more than capable of accepting capillary samples. They offer a 65uL option for capillary for a standard blood gas. We use that option at all 25 sites!

Ah ok. Thank you, Christina! Their 510k said it took capillary samples, so I was confused. Glad to hear!

Does anyone use the Nova PrimePlus? How would you say it compares to the ABL90?

We have 10 Gem 5000 and absolutely love them over the ABL 90.  They are great for resp and rn use due to everything is contained in the cartridge.  Waste, rinse, probe... all in the cartridge.  When it reaches the end you pull the cartridge and all is contained in one box.  If you have issues with instrument changing the cartridge basically gives you an entirely new system.  there are different cartridges you can buy based off your need.  there are standard blood gas cartridge and then there is a ABG complete cartridge that has electrolytes, lac, ionized calcium, and glucose, co-ox.  This pack also does Venous blood gases.  Sample size for all tests are 150microliters.  We use the GEM 5000 for capillary blood gases. We keep a gem 5000 in our nursery to adhere to the rule of once capillary tube is drawn must be ran in 10 mins. (huge satisfier with our nursery staff). Above some one mentioned 65microliters- this is the micro mode. If you only sample 65 micro liters you will not get a co-ox result (sO2) . the Co-ox portion of the machine takes 65 microliters so if it short samples that is what it takes away.
As stated above there is no IQCP due to the instrument has a program called IQM "intelligent quality management" system.  It performs 15 checks in 15 seconds on all its analytes with each run and when it has sat to long.  It performs its own calibration when pack is inserted into machine.  Essentially it is a hands off instrument which makes it great for use by nursing staff and resp.  60 mins of down time when cartridge is first placed on analyzer- 45 mins to warm to 37 degrees Celsius and 15 mins to do its cal and qc thru its program.  the bar at top of screen turns green - analytes all turn green and it ready for use.  It runs on a software program called gem web plus.  It allows you to track each instrument use- tests available- days to expiration- if machine is on line or off line.  It houses all operators, and allows you to assign competencies if you don't have another software program for that.  reports available to track your critical are all called and documented correctly. And monthly reports for compliance.  Corrective action report to see if a cartridge was removed for quality issues.  Werfen reimburses you for tests that were wasted for the pack not passing quality checks. you just have to upload cartridge data.  I cant say enough good things about this product.  Customer support is friendly and helpful. I never have to wait long for service to arrive.  We are located in Quincy IL with service coming out of st, louis.  2.5 hr drive for them.  always here next day or same day.  We excited to see demos for the GEM 7000 here soon with the hemolysis detection,

We have 12 GEM5000 and they are amazing. No iQCP needed, which is a plus. Our operators love them. Their customer service is very good. Less maintenance and troubleshooting. 

Sonia, do you guys do lot-to lot verifications on the Gem5000?

Best thing about the GEM5000s is their automatic documentation of all corrective actions related to sensor issues. 
And the interference/hemolysis detection.