Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jul 2015
Comparative StudyThe added diagnostic value of five different C-reactive protein point-of-care test devices in detecting pneumonia in primary care: A nested case-control study.
The results obtained from various point-of-care (POC) test devices for estimating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a laboratory setting differ when compared to a laboratory reference test. We aimed to determine whether such differences meaningfully affect the accuracy and added diagnostic value in predicting radiographic pneumonia in adults presenting with acute cough in primary care. ⋯ Five POC CRP test devices and the laboratory analyzer performed with similar accuracy in detecting pneumonia both as single test, and when used in addition to clinical findings. Variability in results obtained from standard CRP laboratory and POC test devices do not translate into clinically relevant differences when used for prediction of pneumonia in patients with acute cough in primary care.
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Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. · Jul 2015
Autotransfusion of a restricted volume of shed mediastinal blood does not affect the haemostatic capacity in patients following cardiac surgery.
The aim was to investigate the haemostatic capacity after autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood in patients following cardiac surgery. Fifteen cardiac surgery patients with a chest tube drainage ≥ 300 mL blood within the first 6 hours postoperatively were included. The haemostatic capacity was evaluated using whole blood thromboelastometry (ROTEM(®)), impedance aggregometry (Multiplate(®)) and conventional coagulation tests. Measurements were carried out in (1) mediastinal blood, and in blood samples obtained, (2) before autotransfusion, and (3) after autotransfusion of mediastinal blood. In shed mediastinal blood, ROTEM(®) analyses showed reduced clot firmness in the EXTEM (p < 0.001), INTEM (p < 0.001), and FIBTEM assay (p = 0.002). Platelet function and conventional coagulation parameters were significantly impaired (p < 0.001). However, ROTEM(®), platelet function and conventional coagulation tests remained unchanged after autotransfusion. ⋯ Shed mediastinal blood has a substantially reduced haemostatic capacity, but autotransfusion of an average of 350 mL did not affect the overall haemostatic capacity.