GEM Premier Blood Gas Analyzer
The "GEM" cardiac blood test you're referring to is the GEM Premier 3000, a point-of-care blood gas analyzer that measures cardiac-relevant parameters including pH, blood gases (pCO2, pO2), electrolytes (Ca2+, Na+, K+), lactate, glucose, and hematocrit from whole blood samples.
What GEM Measures
The GEM Premier 3000 is a compact, portable blood gas analyzer that provides rapid analysis of multiple cardiac and metabolic parameters 1:
- Blood gases: pH, pCO2, pO2
- Electrolytes: Calcium, sodium, potassium
- Metabolites: Lactate and glucose
- Hematocrit
The system requires only 135 microliters of whole blood and uses a single consumable cartridge (GEM Premier Pak) for analysis 1.
Clinical Performance
The GEM Premier 3000 has demonstrated excellent analytical performance 1:
- Precision: Good coefficient of variation (CV) values for both within-run and between-run measurements
- Linearity: Excellent across all measured parameters
- Accuracy: Correlation coefficients between 0.91 and 0.99 when compared to reference methods (Radiometer ABL 725 for blood gases/electrolytes/metabolites, and centrifuged microhematocrit method for hematocrit)
Clinical Applications
This analyzer is particularly valuable in cardiac care settings for 1:
- Point-of-care testing (POCT): Rapid bedside assessment of critically ill cardiac patients
- STAT laboratory use: Emergency evaluation of acid-base status, oxygenation, and electrolyte abnormalities
- Metabolic monitoring: Assessment of lactate levels (marker of tissue perfusion and shock) and glucose control
Practical Advantages
The GEM Premier 3000 offers several operational benefits 1:
- Ease of use: Simple operation with minimal training required
- Portability: Compact design suitable for bedside testing
- Single consumable: Only one cartridge type needed, simplifying inventory management
- Rapid turnaround: Quick results for time-sensitive cardiac emergencies
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
When using the GEM analyzer, be aware that 1:
- Sample quality matters: Ensure proper whole blood collection technique to avoid air bubbles or clotting
- Calibration requirements: Follow manufacturer protocols for quality control using aqueous materials
- Result interpretation: Always correlate blood gas and electrolyte results with clinical presentation, as isolated values may be misleading