Supply of Blood Gas Analyser for Ward 4B

Management of other common complications of COVID such as respiratory failure and sepsis would usually include VBG testing. This is particularly useful in obtaining rapid results in emergency situations, providing results such as pH, CO2, lactate, and rapid electrolyte results that can make a significant difference in management decisions. There is current understandable resistance from other wards with self-purchased VBG machines to allow these specimens to be run in their clinical areas due to fear of potential cross contamination. There are also concerns about surge capacity, even if machines in other areas were capable of managing COVID specimens. Purchase of the recommended blood gas analyser will provide point of care analysing and also provide consistency across RDPH regarding the systems used.