Why hemolysis detection should be an integral part of any near-patient blood gas analysis

Blood gas analysis at or near the patient's bedside is a common practice in acute medicine and plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of patient's respiratory status, metabolites, electrolytes, co-oximetry and acid-base balance. Pre-analytical quality aspects of the specimens are getting more and more attention, including the presence of potential interferences. Central laboratories have implemented technologies to detect interferences such as hemolysis, lipidemia or hyperbilirubinemia in blood samples to ensure the highest possible quality in results provided to routine care. However, systematic detection for interference due to hemolysis is currently not in place for blood gas analysis at the point-of-care (POC). To apply hemolysis detection solutions at the central laboratory, but not at the POC for blood gas analysis, is a clear contradiction when novel hemolysis detecting technologies are available. The introduction of a system that systematically detects hemolysis in connection to POC blood gas analysis would be imperative to patient safety and costs associated with potential clinical malpractice (leading to wrong, missing and/or delayed treatment) and would also ensure better compliance to CLSI guidelines and ISO standards, and be beneficial for patient and staff.