PT failures for pO2 with Siemens EPOC system

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Hello, 

I'm having multiple issues with the Siemens EPOC proficiency testing from API. pO2 has failed enough that it is about to be pulled from my mountain clinic location. 

The nursing team has excellent technique and follows all of the criteria for testing specimens. I have failures by one or two mmHG on both the high end and the low end of the acceptable limits. I've verified with Siemens regarding the pO2 calculation and it does work fine for my QC and Cal Ver, but it has pushed some of my PT values over the high limit once the calculation has been applied. 

It isn't always consistent either, some surveys I pass just fine. Then multiple failures on the pO2. 

I'm at the end of the line, any suggestions on what to do next? We are speaking with JC about next steps and my clinic is very upset they could lose this test. 

3 Replies

Jake, 

This is an out of the box thing....how high is your mountain clinic in altitude? Are the items that are failing up in the higher end of the range of PO2? 
Just a thought......

Yes, my first survey of 2025 failed Creatinine of all things by 0.1 mg/dL on the high end for 4 out of five of the samples. And glucose failed on the low side by 3 g/DL. I did reach out to API about this and they stated how the ranges for Creatinine narrowed from 0.3 mg/DL or 15% to 0.2 mg/dL or 10%. 

Winter park is about 9000 feet where the clinic is located. 

I have used WSLH PT for my EPOC blood gas testing and have never experienced out of range pO2 (other than occasional user error). However, if altitude could be a factor, I can say it would not be for us - we are at whopping 581 ft!

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Jake Fray
5 months ago
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