Survey of Point-of-Care Testing Devices for Pre-hospital EMS Equipment of Glucometer on Local Area

Objective: glucometer is one of POCT(point-of-care testing) devices used by EMS. Accurate measurement value is important for patient decision making. Quality control is necessary for this, but most EMS are still using glucometer without quality control it. Therefore, management status and quality control status of glucometers used by 119 paramedics waswere investigated. Methods: 6 and 8 of glucometers and blood glucose test strips were submitted from 4 safety centers in 2010 and 8 safety centers in 2012, respectively. Glucometers submitted by local safety centers were analyzed in 2010 and 2012. The control glucometer, which was well managed at A University Hospital, was assumed to be accurate for at blood glucose measurement. Glucose values of various quality control materials control solutions were measured and analyzed using linear regression and Pearson's correlation test. Error rates were obtained via error tolerance range required by the 2011 ISO(International Organization for Standardization) guideline. For statistics, Excel and MedCalC programs were used. Results: mong 14 safety centers in the region, 4 centers(28.5%) in 2010 and 8 centers(57.1%) in 2012 submitted 6 and 8 glucometers. In the first evaluation in 2010, 2 out of 6(33.3%) glucometers were untestable due to error, and 45 out of 6(66.683.3%) blood glucose test strips' validity were expired. In the second evaluation in 2012, 1 out of 8(13.5%) glucometers were untestable due to lack of battery, and 2 out of 8(25%) blood glucose test strips' validity were expired. All correlation coefficients were above 0.989 in 2010 and above 0.997 in 2012. Error rates were generally high when using expired blood glucose test strips. Conclusion: Among 119 paramedics' guideline, quantity and operation status of POCT devices are well managed, but quality control is not. Therefore, it is necessary to add management status and quality control status of POCT devices to the EMS' field work guideline.

지역 EMS의 현장검사 혈당측정기 사용에 대한 실태조사

119 구급대원들이 사용하는 현장 검사 장비 중 하나인 자가 혈당측정기는 결과 값이 정확해야 환자에게 적절한 처치를 제공할 수 있다. 연구 최초 조사 시점 이후 현재까지도 119 구급대원 현장업무 지침에 현장 검사 장비의 작동 유무, 수량 등을 확인하는 것은 있으나, 장비의 점검에 수량, 작동 여부 등은 있으나 본 연구에서 분석한 정도관리 내용은 없다. 현장검사 장비의 질 관리가 되지 않고 있다는 것은 환자에 대한 부정확한 평가와 이로 인한 불필요한 처치와 과소, 과대처치 또는 환자 상태가 악화될 가능성을 높일 수 있다. 본 연구를 통해, 앞으로 119 구급대원의 혈당측정기를 포함한 모든 현장검사 장비의 사용실태조사가 이루어져야 하고, 119 구급대 현장 업무 지침에 현장 검사 장비 정도관리를 추가하여야 하겠다. 또한, 현장 검사 장비가 관련 지침에 따라서 적절한 질 관리가 이루어져야 하고, 지역에서 관련 업무 전문가나 응급의료지도를 담당하고 있는 지도의사에게 관리되는 것이 합당하겠다.