POC βhCG Immunoassay: Transforming patient care in an Emergency Gynaecology Unit (EGU)
Having ready access to quantitative point-of-care (POC) βhCG testing in its busy EGU has transformed patient care at the Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust
The need for faster POC ßhCG in acute care
While most pregnancy tests measure Beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) levels, pregnancy blood tests can detect βhCG about 11 days after conception, several days earlier than standard urine tests [1-3]. In acute contexts where time is of the essence, βhCG blood testing is frequently used at the point-of-care (POC) to reduce turnaround times [4].
Prior to the installation of Radiometer’s AQT90 FLEX at the Royal London EGU, blood tests had to be sent to the laboratory for analysis and results commonly took two to three hours to be reported. The ability to test at POC transformed both patient care and staff workflow.
We are able to scan and obtain a blood result within 30 minutes and make a plan of care for that woman and give her the opportunity to make decisions, if necessary, there and then - this can really help to reduce levels of anxiety.
- Mary Gbegbaje, Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS), Doctor EGU, The Royal London
The advantages of POC testing
Mary explains that POC testing has helped prevent unnecessary admissions, free up staff time and resources and has delivered efficiencies and financial savings for the Trust.
Having a POC βhCG is extremely helpful as it allows us to make vital management decisions at the time the patient is in the department, expediting necessary treatment and also reassuring her that she is in good hands.
- Mary Gbegbaje, Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS), Doctor EGU, The Royal London
Reliable and easy to use
Mary concludes, “I think that for emergencies it is so important to have βhCG results promptly. It really improves a woman’s care pathway and so I would wholly endorse the value of this vital assay at the point-of-care in EGUs and Early Pregnancy Assessment Units. It has certainly proved transformational at the Royal London Hospital EGU over the past 10 years.”
The Royal London
- Offers a full range of local and specialist services
- One of the largest children’s hospitals in the UK with one of London’s busiest paediatric accident and emergency departments
- Home to London’s Air Ambulance
- 5,000 babies are born each year at the Royal London
- 181,380 A&E patients cared for in 2019-20
- The Royal London Hospital is rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with a number of areas rated outstanding including in critical care, dental and maternity
References
2. American pregnancy association https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/hcg-levels/
3. Cole L A., Khanlian S. The need for a quantitative urine hCG assay. Clinical Biochemistry 42 (2009) 676–683
4. Fromm C, Likourezos A, Haines L, et al. Substituting whole blood for urine in a bedside pregnancy test. J Emerg Med. 2012;43(3): 478–82.
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