What is bed chem?

Bedside chemistry, often shortened to "bed chem," refers to point-of-care testing (POCT) performed near or at a patient's bedside. It allows for rapid acquisition of test results, enabling quicker clinical decision-making and potentially improved patient outcomes. Instead of sending samples to a central laboratory, healthcare professionals can use portable analyzers to measure various analytes directly at the patient's location.

Key aspects of bed chem include:

• Speed and Efficiency: Rapid turnaround time is a primary advantage.
• Convenience: Testing is performed directly at the bedside, eliminating the need to transport samples.
• Improved Patient Care: Faster results allow for quicker diagnosis and treatment adjustments.
• Portability: Devices are typically small and easily transportable.
• Ease of Use: Instruments are designed for use by a variety of healthcare personnel, not just laboratory specialists.

Common analytes measured with bed chem devices:

• Glucose: Crucial for managing diabetes and monitoring critically ill patients.
• Electrolytes (e.g., sodium, potassium, chloride): Essential for assessing fluid and electrolyte balance.
• Blood%20Gases (e.g., pH, pCO2, pO2): Important in assessing respiratory function and acid-base balance.
• Cardiac%20Markers (e.g., troponin): Used to diagnose and monitor acute myocardial infarction.
• Coagulation%20Tests (e.g., prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time): Useful in managing anticoagulation therapy.

While offering numerous benefits, it's important to maintain rigorous quality control and ensure proper training of personnel to minimize errors and maintain accuracy.