How the epoc system brings blood gas testing to the bedside
Some patients cannot wait for a sample to travel to the laboratory, and some cannot be moved. The Siemens Healthineers epoc is a handheld blood analysis system that runs the test where the patient is.
What is the epoc blood analysis system?
The epoc is a handheld analyzer that gives blood gas and critical-care results in under a minute at the bedside. Each test uses a single-use card and at least 92 µL of blood, and the result is sent wirelessly to the hospital system through the epoc NXS Host.
What one test card reports
One card measures blood gas, electrolytes and metabolites together, so the clinician gets a complete picture from one sample.
- Measured: pH, pCO2, pO2, sodium, potassium, ionised calcium, chloride, haematocrit, glucose, lactate, creatinine and urea.
- Calculated: bicarbonate, base excess, oxygen saturation, haemoglobin, anion gap and eGFR, among others.
Why room-temperature cards help
The test cards are stored at 15 to 30 °C and have a shelf life of up to 5 months. They do not need a refrigerator, so they can be kept in the emergency room, the NICU or the theatre, next to where they are used.
Keeping bedside testing under control
Testing outside the laboratory raises a fair question: who checks the quality? The epoc links wirelessly to the POCcelerator data management platform, which lets the laboratory manage it centrally.
- Operators: only certified operators can run tests.
- Quality control: QC schedules are set and tracked centrally.
- Results: sent automatically to the LIS or HIS, with no manual entry and no transcription errors.
Handheld or benchtop?
The epoc suits emergency departments, NICUs, operating theatres and wards where the clinician should not leave the patient. A unit with a steady, high daily volume is usually better served by a benchtop analyzer such as the RAPIDPoint 500e. Our guide to bedside blood gas testing explains when testing should move to the bedside.
Frequently asked questions
Less than one minute after the sample is applied to the card.
At least 92 µL.
No. They are stored at room temperature, 15 to 30 °C, with a shelf life of up to 5 months.
Yes. Creatinine and urea are measured on the same card, and eGFR is calculated.
Milap International supplies, installs and services the epoc system, and trains operators, from Bengaluru.
Need results without leaving the patient?
Ask for a demonstration of the epoc system at your hospital.