Hemolysis, or the rupturing of red blood cells, is the most common reason why a blood sample is deemed unfit for laboratory analysis. Every year, billions of blood samples are taken globally that are hemolyzed, while the majority of all medical decisions are based on results from blood test analysis. Missing or incorrect test results can lead to delayed treatment, spiraling healthcare costs, increased workloads for healthcare professionals and above all, unnecessary suffering for patients. For point of care analyses, such as blood gas analyses, results are released without checking for hemolysis. At the same time, there is scientific evidence that a large amount of blood samples are hemolysed and that hemolysis changes the analysis results for important analytes. For example, the analysis results may be falsely normal, while the actual values are completely different. This can lead to missing, incorrect or delayed care for patients with acute conditions. For some patient groups intravascular hemolysis is an important problem which can lead to adverse outcomes, and that needs to be detected and treated.

Now, an innovative product concept from Hemcheck Sweden AB (Solna, Sweden) enables the detection of hemolysed blood samples in direct connection with blood sampling near the patient, contributing to increased patient safety, more efficient processes and lower costs. Hemcheck operations are based around the Helge product concept. The product consists of three different disposable tests, v-Test for vacuum tubes and s-Test and bgs-Test for blood gas syringes, both of which can be used in the same reader.

For easy and user-friendly reading of disposable v-, bgs- and s-Tests, there is a common reader that, with a simple push of a button, signals if the blood sample is Hemolyzed or not. The aim is to identify hemolyzed blood samples at the time of sampling (point of care) and with the same quality as a laboratory. With an accessory screen connected to the reader, the user can determine the amount of free hemoglobin in the blood sample. The reader is mobile, easy to clean and can easily sit on a trolley or next to a blood gas analysis instrument. Today it can take up to one hour for a blood sample result to come back from the laboratory to the sampler. Helge performs the same analysis in a matter of seconds, opening up new possibilities for assessing blood sample quality and helping determining patient diagnosis. 

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