ITC IRMA TruPoint Blood Analysis System - Manual (Page 31)

2.1
Section 2
Patient Sample
Analysis
OVERVIEW
This section describes the procedure for performing a whole blood patient
sample analysis on the IRMA TruPoint analyzer, including sample require-
ments, sample collection, and sample handling guidelines.
SAMPLE REQUIREMENTS
ACCEPTABLE SPECIMENS
• Fresh arterial or venous whole blood collected in a 1, 2, or 3 mL lithium
heparin syringe. Balanced or low-volume heparin is recommended for
ionized calcium testing; sodium heparin may be used, but sodium values
may be elevated 1-2 mmol/L.
• Fresh capillary whole blood collected in the IRMA TruPoint Capillary
Collection Device, which contains balanced lithium heparin.
• Fresh venous whole blood collected in a lithium heparin collection tube.
Balanced or low-volume heparin is recommended for ionized calcium
testing; sodium heparin may be used, but sodium values may be elevated
1-2 mmol/L. The sample should be transferred to a non-heparinized 1, 2,
or 3 mL syringe for injection into a cartridge.
SYRINGE REQUIREMENTS
Most standard ABG syringes are compatible with IRMA TruPoint cartridges.
The following general types of syringes should not be used with IRMA
TruPoint cartridges:
• Frictionless or “pulsating” syringes. These syringes have plungers that will
continue to travel downward after the user has stopped injecting. This may
result in a sensor error.
• Syringes that contain a mixing ball or non-dissolving disk impregnated
with heparin. The ball or disk may become lodged in the tip of the syringe,
and the sample may hemolyze when it is forced through or around the
plug during injection.
• Syringes that have a non-standard Luer hub that does not fit the IRMA
TruPoint cartridge Luer injection port.