CAP Pro Course - Point-of-Care Testing - Cardiac Biomarkers

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Author: Alice Travanty, BS, MT(ASCP)
Reviewer: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Correlate results of cardiac biomarkers with clinical findings.
  • Identify venipuncture procedures and specimen requirements that will produce a quality specimen for point-of-care (POC) cardiac biomarker testing.
  • Apply procedural methods for POC cardiac biomarkers that will ensure quality results and patient safety.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of procedures to be performed to ensure a new analyzer functions properly.

Course Outline

  • Correlate results of cardiac biomarkers with clinical findings.
      • Cardiac Biomarkers
      • Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
      • Cardiac Troponin
      • Heart Failure (HF)
      • Detecting Heart Failure (HF)
      • Which of the following is not a cause of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
      • Which of the following statements concerning NT-proBNP and BNP are true?
      • A woman presents in the Emergency Department (ED) with shortness of breath. She denies having any chest pain. Based on her symptoms, which test would ...
      • Which of the following is not a symptom of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
      • Which point-of-care cardiac biomarker remains elevated for as long as 7 to 10 days after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
      • A 70-year-old male arrives in the emergency department with complaints of difficulty breathing and slight chest discomfort. From the patient's history...
      • Which of these point-of-care tests that are sometimes used as cardiac biomarkers provides the LEAST amount of specific information regarding the likel...
  • Identify venipuncture procedures and specimen requirements that will produce a quality specimen for point-of-care (POC) cardiac biomarker testing.
      • Procedure for Performing Venipuncture for POC Cardiac Biomarkers
      • Collecting a Blood Specimen From an Arm With an IV
      • Specimen Guidelines for POC Cardiac Biomarker Testing
      • Which is the best site to use when performing a venipuncture for a troponin test?
      • An ED tech needs to draw blood from a patient for a troponin level. The patient has IVs running in both arms. He asks the nurse to stop the IV in one ...
      • A patient in the ED has a BNP test ordered. The tech drawing the blood applies a tourniquet to the patient's arm and then gathers the needed supplies....
      • A female patient is brought by ambulance to the ED. The patient is unconscious. The patient's adult daughter has accompanied her. Blood work, includin...
      • Which of the following are sites to AVOID when searching for a suitable site for venipuncture?
      • If the venipuncture must be performed on an arm that contains an IV, how long should the IV be discontinued before the blood is collected?
  • Apply procedural methods for POC cardiac biomarkers that will ensure quality results and patient safety.
      • Ensuring Quality Results
      • Test Method Correlation
      • How often does troponin and BNP QC need to be reviewed by the POC coordinator or designee?
      • The ED analyzer tests for BNP and the laboratory analyzer tests for NT-proBNP. How often do these tests need to have test method correlations performe...
      • The ED uses a POC device for troponin testing that is taken into the patient's room where it is used. What is the CDC requirement for disinfecting the...
      • Daily QC is required on the analyzers in the ED. How should this duty be assigned?
      • The emergency department uses an analyzer for point-of-care (POC) troponin I testing. Troponin I is also tested in the main laboratory using a differe...
      • A point-of-care (POC) cardiac biomarker that has been ordered as a stat test is performed on a patient who was admitted several hours ago to the cardi...
  • Demonstrate knowledge of procedures to be performed to ensure a new analyzer functions properly.
      • Verification of Test Performance Specifications
      • Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP)
      • Which of the following statements is not true regarding an Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP)?
      • How often does an IQCP need to be reapproved by the laboratory director or designee?
      • The ED is currently running daily external controls on their troponin analyzers. They find that this is time consuming and would like to run electroni...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, phlebotomists, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Alice Travanty, BS, MT(ASCP) was the Point-of-Care Coordinator for St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin until her recent retirement from that position. She serves as a technical consultant for Tosa Pediatrics. Alice is the author of article "Connectivity Aids Compliance" in Advance for Administrators of Laboratory Vol 20, Issue 11, page 18. She graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Medical Technology and holds a Point-of-Care Specialist certificate from AACC.
Reviewer Information: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM, has over 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. He is the former Director of Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. He is currently a Program Director at MediaLab, Inc. Alex holds BS degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from the University of Georgia.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

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