Clinitek 50 POCT

Learning Objectives Essential criteria for assessment: Present for training session Practical Assessment – 1 supervised test Show knowledge and understanding of: Urine dipping technique Entering data Changing the paper Maintenance Trouble shooting Understand own continuous development responsibilities to maintain competency.

What information about the body can we obtain from urine ?

The parts of the body urinalysis can give us information about include: Kidney Liver Urinary Tract Infection Blood Carbohydrate metabolism Nutrition Muscles

Sample Collection First voided morning urine is best for routine analysis as it is the most concentrated. If possible, void directly into a clean, dry container/bedpan. It is best to test samples immediately. If this is not possible the test must be completed within 4 hours providing the samples are stored in clean plastic containers. When disposable cardboard containers are used samples must be analysed immediately as containers may leach contaminants into the sample providing incorrect results.

Strip storage All strips and cassettes should be ordered from pharmacy stores and be stored on the ward based on the following criteria: Multistix 10SG & 8SG Sensitive to moisture in atmosphere – ensure lid is replaced securely after each test. Expiry date on side of vial and box. Store at room temperature. The difference between the two sets of strips is that the 10SG also tests for UBG and Billi.

Potential sources of error are: Stale specimen, Poor technique, Improper recording, Unclean containers, Incorrect storage, No routine Quality Control or Interfering substances. To combat these Biochemistry POCT ask that ward staff do not do any of the following: Touch the test pads. Leave cap off the strips for prolonged periods of time. Remove the desiccant packet from containers. Take out more strips than required for each patient. Use out of date strips.

How to analyse a sample

Patient Sample All urine samples should be checked before being analysed and the flow diagram on the following slide should be followed. Samples should be: Labelled [3 unique identifiers/addressograph]. Freshly expelled from the body. Room temperature [Do not refrigerate]. Samples should not be: Very pale/dilute. Heavily blood stained [<1g/dl Hb]

Multistix Technique Set the test table up correctly, ensuring the table insert has the strip side is facing upwards. Completely immerse the reagent strip into the urine. As you withdraw the sample run the edge against the rim of container to remove any excess urine. Holding strip horizontally blot the edge on a tissue. Do not draw the strip across the tissue as this may damage the pads and give incorrect results. Please try not to bend the strips whilst sampling. A bend in the strip may cause it to get lodged inside the analyser and prevent it from working. Place the strip along the centre of the table as far as possible and press either of the green buttons on the front of the analyser.

Waste Disposal Urine samples should be discarded in the sluice and any containers as are to be disposed of as clinical waste following Trust guidelines. Multistix strips should be disposed in a clinical waste bin.

Troubleshooting & Maintenance

Troubleshooting The majority of the trouble shooting and maintenance is carried out by Biochemistry POCT, but there are a couple of things you can do to help us out.

Maintenance - Cleaning the table It is recommended that you clean the test table at least once a week by putting it under a running tap, ensuring that the whole table is wet. Using a tissue thoroughly dry the table ensuring that you don’t touch the white section with your bare hands as this may affect calibrations. The test table should be wiped with a dry tissue between each patient. Check that the calibration strip on the instrument is clean EVERY day. If the calibration strip is not clean then it should be cleaned using a soft cloth ensuring that you do not scratch it.

Maintenance - Changing the paper roll Lift the top [black section] of the analyser to reveal the location of the paper roll. Remove the remains of the old roll by pulling it backwards through the printer. To feed the new roll into the printer first cut the free end of the new roll into a point. The ink is only on one side of the paper, not in the printer, and installing the paper incorrectly will result in nothing being printed. To check which side of the paper the ink is on scratch it with your fingernail. If grey marks are left behind then you’ve scratched the side with the ink and this side needs to be facing the front of the analyser. Drop the new roll into the lid [black section] of the analyser and with the loose end locate the slot for the paper to go through near the printer. Push the pointed end through the slot until it reappears at the other side. Feed the free end through lid and close everything back up.

Ordering details Paper rolls for the urine machines are to be ordered by individual wards and can be ordered by ringing Protech Medical Ltd on The part number is PT 58/29.PT 58/29 The strips are ordered through Pharmacy.

Contacting Biochemistry POCT For any other problems regarding the Clinitek Status please contact Biochemistry POCT on: Ext Rob Coleman Andy Sheppard Lindsey Riley Or us using “Point of Care” on GroupWise.

Quality Control Biochemistry POCT will run all QC and EQA samples and Ward staff are not expected to carry this out for themselves. QC is run on a 2 monthly basis, this consists of a Positive And Negative solution being run through the analyser. EQA is run on a 2 monthly basis and consists of a single Sample being run through the analyser.

Auditing Once every 2 months (at the same time as EQA) your analyser will be audited for the following criteria: Patient ID being correctly input Strips being in date Analysers settings being correct (time, date, strips etc) General cleanliness Associated paperwork present (SOP, Flowchart etc) Training records kept up to date A copy of the audit will be sent to matron and ward sister so they are aware of how the ward is doing. If there is cause for concern regarding the machines performance then POCT will let you know. An additional yearly audit will be carried out by Siemens.

Key Trainer Responsibilities Your responsibilities as key trainers are to: Ensure that every member of ward staff who needs to use the analyser is trained to do so. Send the details of all members of staff trained on your ward to the address “point of care” to be entered onto the database and the electronic staff record (ESR) by POCT staff using the form provided. Training records need to be kept locally and will be inspected during auditing.

Teaching Resources All the information you may need (including this presentation) to train your colleagues can be found on the trust website alongside the Standard Operating Procedure. On the website highlight Point of Care in the blue bar along the top of the screen and scroll down to the sections headed Urine Testing and Training Resouces for Key Trainers – Urinanalysis.