GEM 5000/7000 PAK Failure Rates
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I have been noticing that my GEM PAK often times has the glucose and lactate be disabled due to consistent QC failure.
We usually resolve the issue by swapping out the GEM PAK, but it seems to be happening more often than normal. While the Werfen team is always great to work with, the process of calling support, downloading the files, and uploading them for reimbursement is time-consuming and takes us away from other responsibilities.
Since these analyzers are located at the point of care, we also need to physically go to the instrument to replace the GEM PAK. In addition, coordinating the replacement can be challenging because of the approximately 40-minute warm-up period, and we need to consider patient testing needs before taking an analyzer out of use for that period.
I understand from time to time, certain analytes may fail but the failure rates of the GEM PAKs seem unusually high.
Have others experience this?
We usually resolve the issue by swapping out the GEM PAK, but it seems to be happening more often than normal. While the Werfen team is always great to work with, the process of calling support, downloading the files, and uploading them for reimbursement is time-consuming and takes us away from other responsibilities.
Since these analyzers are located at the point of care, we also need to physically go to the instrument to replace the GEM PAK. In addition, coordinating the replacement can be challenging because of the approximately 40-minute warm-up period, and we need to consider patient testing needs before taking an analyzer out of use for that period.
I understand from time to time, certain analytes may fail but the failure rates of the GEM PAKs seem unusually high.
Have others experience this?
4 Replies
We had this problem. The glucose and lactate will disable if you use Hydrogen peroxide wipes within 3 feet of the GEM. The H2O2 disables the peroxidase reaction (page 133 of manual) in the sensors and disables those analytes. I asked for formal documentation of this technical issue from the Werfen team--they do not have it, but this is what their tech support told me. We had to put signs on all the GEMS that they are not to be cleaned with Peroxide wipes and we have since seen that problem disappear.
I also find it helpful to send Tech support emails with the information to create the cases so that limits the time of the phone calls. Then once they create the case they email back with the case number and send the email over to upload the data.
Both of the above suggestions are wonderful, but if you have a service agreement you are also welcome to request service if you are having increased issues. Especially if they are re-occurring. Sometimes it is a hardware issue and it's aggravating to keep changing cartridges when the issue is fixable. :)
We have also been having increased failures, especially for Lactate. Thank you for the information about the Hydrogen peroxide wipes. I need to ask if these particular wipes are being used in some of the departments where we are experiencing increased Lac disabled errors.
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