Point-of-care testing - Measurement of coagulation

Point-of-care testing of coagulation parameters provides a more rapid asses sment of test results compared with laboratory testing. A new coagulation m onitor (GEM(R) PCL, Instrumentation Laboratory, Kirchheim, Germany) was eva luated. Point-of-care data for activated partial thromboplastin time and pr othrombin time (expressed as the international normalised ratio) and turnar ound-time were compared. Coagulation parameters were compared in the blood of 57 patients with and without heparin therapy. The point-of-care and labo ratory test results showed a bias (SD) of -0.26 (4.55) s for activated part ial thromboplastin time and -0.011 (0.150) s for prothrombin time. The aver age turn-around-time was 3 min for point-of-care testing vs. 52 min for lab oratory testing. We conclude that the reliability of point-of-care testing is sufficient for clinical use.