A portable analyzer i-STAT uses multisensor disposable cartridges to measure sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose, electrolytes, blood gases, urea and haematocrit with calculated bicarbonat e, total CO2. Different cartridges are available from simple determination of glucose to complete menu of stat laboratory. In the present study, the cartridges EC8+ were used for analysis of 42 blood samples of different patients. The mean time from sample collection to the result was 3™48™™, wireless transfer (infraport) of results from analyzer to PC. Paired samples were tested both by i-STAT and by a routinely used analyzer in the stat laboratory of IKEM. The results were statistically evaluated and for values of the i-STAT analyser a wider 95% confidence interval was found, reflecting great variation of differences. i-STAT analyzers should be used mainly in prehospital care, in emergency situations to guide therapy (sodium, potassium, acid base status, haematocrit).

        Key words: blood gases, electrolytes, point-of-care testing.