Performing a fingerstick: what can affect the results
The relevance of using capillary blood in diagnostic testing is sometimes debated. For example, laboratory reference values are commonly set using venous blood and improper capillary sample collection method can cause discrepancies between capillary and venous blood values. Hence, the sampling procedure is crucial and should ensure a good blood flow. Following general recommendations, results with capillary sample using the MPA inlet are comparable to results with venous blood using the open tube inlet.
Cost-efficiency in hematology testing
Many clinical laboratories are challenged with high testing cost that reduce their margins. At the same time, an extensive list of reported parameters might be required for the specific clinical setting and an attractive test offering can be a prerequisite to stay competitive on the diagnostic testing market. Such laboratories might be referred to the use of a more expensive 5-part hematology system, although the larger part of incoming sample requests might be for CBC results only. For such scenarios, the combination of the less expensive 3-part instruments with a small point-of-care (POC) device, such as the spinit® system, can be the solution.
Testing cost for hematology analysis using a Boule 3-part hematology analyzer with spinit BC analysis included for 5% of all samples can be about half the testing cost compared with all samples tested using a 5-part analyzer. Additionally, the investment cost of a combination of the 3-part hematology analyzer and the spinit analyzer can be about half the cost of a 5-part analyzer.
Learn more – Download the full whitepaper to learn more about how to ensure reliability and cost-efficiency in near-patient diagnostic testing.
