Evaluation of a Plasma hCG Method for Point of Care Testing with the Aim of Shortening Test-Turnaround-Times

Abstract

Objective: To examine the correlation between plasma hCG results obtained with the new i-STAT ® hCG point of care test with those concomitantly obtained from the central hospital laboratory uti-lizing the same patient samples. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional laboratory test evaluation. We compared plasma hCG results obtained with the i-STAT ® hCG test (Abbott Point of Care, Prin-ceton, NJ, USA) with Architect Ci8200 (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA). We also calcu-lated the total coefficient of variation (CV) for the i-STAT ® method. Results: The two methods showed a good linear correlation (R 2 = 0.994; slope 1.03) and CV for the i-STAT ® method was 2.1% -5.2%. Conclusion: We suggest that the i-STAT ® hCG blood assay could be used as a comple-ment to urine hCG assays in clinical situations when rapid test results are needed and urine is not available.