The influence of sampling technique on ACT Plus results

Area of Science:

• Medical Device Technology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• The ACT Plus Automated Coagulation Timer requires specific pre-testing procedures for accurate results.
• Clinical environments may lead to overlooking manufacturer recommendations for cartridge prewarming and reagent mixing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of deviations from recommended sampling techniques on ACT Plus test results.
• To determine the influence of prewarming and reagent mixing on the accuracy and agreement of coagulation test results.

Main Methods:

• Two series of experiments were conducted using ACT Plus test cartridges.
• Series 1 compared results from chambers with varied techniques (warm/tapped, cold/tapped, warmed/not tapped, cold/not tapped) against the recommended method.
• Series 2 validated the manufacturer's recommendations using a double cartridge (warm/tapped); Bland-Altman analysis was employed.

Main Results:

• Both prewarming cartridges and resuspending activating reagent independently affected result agreement.
• Excluding either temperature or mixing significantly altered standard deviation and reduced result agreement.
• Deviations from recommended techniques led to decreased accuracy in ACT Plus test results.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing sampling techniques according to manufacturer recommendations is crucial for accurate ACT Plus test results.
• Both cartridge temperature and reagent mixing are critical factors influencing coagulation test accuracy.
• Adherence to prewarming and tapping protocols enhances the reliability of ACT Plus diagnostic measurements.