Table 2 POC tests employed and cost comparisons between the control pathway tests and their POC equivalents

Abbott Point-of-Care i-STAT® System

The i-STAT System utilises single-use i-STAT test cartridges (i-STAT, Abbott Point of Care, Princeton, NJ, USA) with a handheld POC blood analyser. The CHEM8+ (sodium, potassium, chloride, total carbon dioxide, ionised calcium, glucose, urea, creatinine, haematocrit, haemoglobin and anion gap) and CG4+ (Lactate; pH; partial pressure carbon dioxide (PCO₂); partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂); total carbon dioxide; bicarbonate; base excess and oxygen saturation) were performed on venous blood specimens.

Abbott CEL-DYN Emerald 22 benchtop haematology system

The CEL-DYN Emerald 22 benchtop haematology system was used. It is capable of providing a POC Complete/Full Blood Count as well as a white blood cell differential count.

ECG

Philips Pagewriter TC30 ECG machines were utilised to obtain the ECGs. All patients randomised to receive an ECG received a standard 12-lead ECG as well as a right-sided (V1R-V6R) and posterior (V7-V9) ECG. The cost of the ECG was the same in both the control and the intervention groups.

LODOX®

A Lodox Xmplar-dr was used by a radiographer to perform the LODOX® (LOw-DOse X-ray) radiographs (chest and abdomen, antero-posterior and lateral). The radiation exposure was approximately 339uGy per patient versus a standard chest and abdomen radiograph of approximately 5200uGy [11]. LODOX® is the radiological equivalent of a POC test as it can provide a full body X-ray within 19 s without the patient leaving the ED. Its utility in trauma patients is reasonably well-known but its use as a diagnostic tool for non-trauma patients in the ED has not been evaluated previously [12].