Performance of the Radiometer OSM3 and ABL505 blood gas analysers for determination of sodium, potassium and haemoglobin concentrations

We have compared results obtained from two widely used ward-based blood gas analysers, the Radiometer OSM3 and ABL505, with standard laboratory analys ers, for haemoglobin, sodium and potassium measurement in critically ill ad ult patients. During the study, paired samples for analysis were obtained f rom 81 patients for haemoglobin, 115 patients for sodium and 95 patients fo r potassium. There was good agreement between the ward and the laboratory a nalysers in terms of the mean results for each test. However, the limits of agreement for the ward-based analysers were wide, suggesting that their re sults should be used with caution.