Clear-IT™ Closed Blood Sampling System
The Clear-IT™ addresses two common problems associated with blood sampling in the ICU: (1) ICU Anemia due to blood waste associated with blood sampling, and (2) infections due to the use of open systems allowing bacteria to migrate into the patient blood system.
ICU Anemia is a common problem in intensive care unit (ICU) patients caused by several factors, one of which is frequent blood sampling for measurements of arterial blood gases and other laboratory parameters1. Studies show that >95% of patients in the ICU are anemic after their first week in the unit. The healthy replacement rate for red blood cells is 15-20 mL/day, but daily phlebotomy in the ICU steals 40-70 mL (of which only about 1 mL is actually tested).
A variety of observational studies have established an association between anemia and worsened outcomes, including mortality, failure to wean from mechanical ventilation, and myocardial infarction2.
A study conducted in the ICU of the University Hospital in Tübingen, Germany in 2015, showed that a simple “Blood-Saving Bundle” (BSB) combining a closed-loop arterial blood sampling system, smaller sampling tubes, reduced frequency of blood drawings, and reduced sample numbers, can reduce diagnostic blood loss and the transfusion rate in mechanically ventilated patients3.
Catheter-related bloodstream infections are associated with significant costs and adverse consequences. Arterial catheters are commonly used in the critical care setting and are among the most heavily manipulated vascular access devices. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2014 sought to evaluate the prevalence of arterial catheter-related bloodstream infection. The review concluded that arterial catheters are a substantial but under recognized cause of catheter-related bloodstream infection. Future studies should evaluate technologies applied to preventing central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection to arterial catheters as well4.
“Arterial catheters inserted and managed as central catheters including the use of sealed-closed system, yield reliable blood pressure management with extremely low risk”.
Andrew Leibowitz, MD; Critical Care Intensivist, Executive Vice Chair of Anesthesiology, Mt. Sinai Hospital, NY
Elcam’s Clear-IT™ combines an In-Line Reservoir for waste collection and a stopcock with Marvelous™ propriety feature.
The In-Line Reservoir eliminates the discarding of waste taken through the set prior to the blood sampling in order to assure a pure blood sample is withdrawn. The entire clearing volume is reinfused to the patient upon completion of the sampling process in a sealed tight manner that minimizes contamination. The Reservoir is designed to be either connected to a standard mount plate or on the patient bed.
The In-Line Reservoir is connected to the line through a stopcock with the unique Marvelous™ proprietary design featuring a circumferential fluid channel that assures clearing of the line and the syringe’s tip with minimal non-flushable (residual) volume after blood reinfusion following blood sampling.
Clear-IT™ Closed Blood Sampling System was designed for simplicity, safety and improved workflow:
- Intuitive and easy to use – requires minimal training
- Efficient – enables efficient and shorter blood sampling process and simultaneously minimizes blood waste by reinfusing clearing volume back into the patient
- Safe
* Closed in-line design protects patient’s blood from exposure to microorganisms
* Continuous line and syringe clearing decreases opportunities for microbial contamination
Elcam’s Clear-IT™ Blood Sampling System is available as a stand-alone system.
The system can be used in combination with Elcam’s Sense- IT™ Integrated Disposable Pressure Transducer and with Elcam’s Marvelous™ stopcock for minimal residual volume needleless blood sampling, providing the building blocks for the most advanced and safe pressure monitoring lines.
