Wireless Connectivity Transforms POC Blood Glucose Testing

The National Health Service (NHS; United Kingdom) Trust has installed wireless blood glucose meters in wards, clinics, and theaters across all three of its acute hospital sites in Mid Yorkshire (United Kingdom).

Wireless devices, connected by intelligent IT systems are vital for patient safety and for meeting Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) requirements for Point of Care (POC) testing.

The meters are linked wirelessly to the Hospital Information System (HIS) via the Roche POC data management solution, cobas IT 1000, allowing them to be managed centrally in accordance with national guidelines for POC devices.

In addition to transmitting patient results, Roche Diagnostic's (Burgess Hill, United Kingdom) blood glucose meter, Accu-Chek Inform II records quality control (QC) results, operator and patient details, consumable details, configuration information, and comments. The data transmitted by the meters is managed by cobas IT 1000, which permits patient validation, operator recognition, and material lot tracking.

“Our new blood glucose testing system helps us to fulfill CPA requirements in a number of ways,” explained Tracey Eastwood, senior BMS responsible for POC testing within the Trust. “It provides a central record of all data, including QC records, which, in turn, provide an important audit trail. The system also enables us to manage reagents, calibrations, and quality control centrally. Centralized calibration of glucose meters has removed the risk of operator errors and the QC lockout feature ensures that operators perform the necessary QC activities at the required intervals, otherwise the meter cannot be used.”

While there is no cure for diabetes at the moment, management of the disease has become more effective.

Related Links:
National Health Service
Roche Diagnostics