BJH POCT Hemochron Annual
Competency
Basic Specifications
Screen size: 800x600
(delete all but one)
Sponsor: Lori Ashby
Sponsor’s Title: Point of Care Testing Supervisor
Date to be posted: January 1, 2014
Objectives
Hemochron Jr.
Review Policies and Procedures
Review Patient Testing
Perform QC Testing
Why am I doing this?
It is a Joint Commission and CAP (College of American
Pathologist) requirement that all staff performing Point
of Care Testing have their competency tested at least
annually. To be considered competent, you must
complete this course, take quiz and run both low and
high EQC. Since this is considered moderately complex
testing by CLIA, a separate checklist of competencies
must be completed off line.
Policies and Procedures
How do I find the procedure that gives me directions on how to run the meter?
The POCT procedures can be found on the BJHnet Policies & Procedures. It is
located under Patient Care: Point of Care Testing. Refer to BJH Policy and
Procedure "Point of Care Testing: PT/INR, aPTT, and ACT using Hemochron
Elite.”
Review Patient Testing
Proper patient testing requires that you follow the step by step
procedure you find in the on-line policy. It is important to follow the
procedure to ensure accurate testing. If testing is not performed
correctly or if your sample is not obtained correctly you could get an
erroneous result.
Review Patient Testing
Test Procedure
The cuvette must be inserted into the
instrument and warmed to 37 degrees
before sample can be added.
The meter will turn itself ON
automatically.
The Hemochron will identify the test
cuvette and initiate the pre-warm/self
check mode.
Review Patient Testing
Test Procedure
Scan badge when screen displays Enter
OID.
Review Patient Testing
Test Procedure
When PID is displayed, enter Patient ID
via barcode scanner or numeric keypad.
If numeric keypad is used, press and
hold enter key.
Review Patient Testing
Test Procedure
Draw sample when the "Apply sample"
prompt appears on the instrument. You
have 5 minutes to draw and add the
sample.
Press START immediately after adding
sample. When Start is pressed, the
instrument precisely measures 15 ul of
blood and automatically moves it into the
test channel within the ACT-LR cuvette.
Remember to press the START button
immediately after adding the sample.
Delay between applying sample and when
you actually press START will decrease
your overall clotting time.
Review Patient Testing
Test Procedure
Patient results will display on screen.
Document results. Once cuvette is
removed the results will disappear from
screen.
Note: If performing PT/INR or aPTT,
only use the plasma equivalent values.
Do not use the whole blood results.
Review Patient Testing
Test Procedure
Cartridge Stability
Stable refrigerated until the
stamped expiration date.
Stable at Room Temperature for
twelve weeks.
Re-dating is necessary if stored
at room temperature. Please be
sure all room temperature
cuvettes have new expiration
documented.
Review Patient Testing
Interfering Substances & Conditions
The following will interfere with measurement. If present, values may be
inaccurate and alternate analysis by the clinical laboratory method is
warranted.





Delay in testing could result in falsely low results.
Poor technique including blood collection
Foaming samples
Clotted or partially clotted blood
Hematocrit <20% or >55% are not recommended due to an optical density
outside of the level of detection of the instrument. May give optical density
error of “no sample seen”.
 Hemodilution, cardioplegic solutions, hypothermia, platelet dysfunction,
hypofibrinogenemia, other coagulopathies, and certain medication may affect
the ACT.
 Improper storage of test kits outside specified guidelines may affect the results
Review Patient Testing
Download patient results
Please download at the end of
the case or at least once every 8
hours.
1. Plug the red data cable into
the Ethernet port on the left
side of the instrument.
2. Press START button to turn on.
(If EQC starts, CANCEL)
3. Press DATA BASE key, then
option 6-POCT >>NET.
Instrument will connect to the
network and send results.
4. Export is complete when
message “ Disconnecting
Network” is displayed.
Ethernet Port
Quality Control
Electronic Daily Quality control
EQC include 2 levels of Electronic Quality
Control (EQC) and a temperature check.
The meter is programmed to automatically
perform EQC every 8 hours if used.
You may perform upon demand by pushing
the QC button and then “1”=Run EQC.
If the meter is turned off, the meter will
automatically perform the EQC when it is
turned on if it is past due. If the meter is on
the EQC will automatically run.
Quality Control
Electronic Daily Quality control
The Hemochron will run both the
30 and 300/500 second QC when
initiated.
Please be sure to allow enough
time to complete.
It is recommended that you turn
on the meter 10 minutes ahead of
time to allow for the EQC
completion.
Quality Control
Electronic Daily Quality control
If EQC is due and you insert a cuvette to run a patient sample, the hemochron will
ask if you:
Press 1 to abort. Insert cuvette. Instrument will ask if you want to perform an
emergency 911 patient. Once patient test is complete, remove cuvette and EQC will
proceed. You are only allowed one emergency patient interruption before EQC must
be performed.
Quality Control
Liquid weekly Quality Control
LQC is required every other week. The LQC
is a test on the cuvette, instrument and the
operator to be sure the entire system is
operating correctly.
Summary
Accurate results come from a combination of good practices throughout the
entire analytical system which includes specimen collection, testing and
documentation. By reviewing the correct procedure annually we can ensure
we are obtaining accurate results on which our patients are treated.
Thank you!
Quiz Specifications
Answer each question below with either Yes or No.
Randomize questions? No
Minimum Passing Score: 80
Use this quiz as a pre-test as well as a post test? No
Use this test quiz for a Test-Out option to the course? No