Anticoagulation monitoring at the point of care

This hand-held equipment typically provides readings of blood clotting tendency in just one minute, allowing primary care practitioners to monitor patients at risk of developing blood clots. This method of anticoagulation testing may support the migration of anticoagulation services from secondary to primary care.

One million patients in the UK (including those being treated for atrial fibrillation, deepvein thrombosis or genetic clotting disorders) currently are prescribed oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) such as warfarin to prevent the formation of clots. However, OAT requires constant monitoring and dose adjustments to avoid underdosing or overdosing.

Traditionally, international normalised ratio (INR) results are obtained by laboratory testing. SmartCheck INR allows healthcare professionals to check a patient’s blood clotting time quickly and accurately by placing a tiny capillary blood sample (3 ìL) on a specially treated strip, which is then inserted in the meter. The INR reading is displayed digitally, typically within one minute.

As the INR result is obtained so rapidly, patients are able to receive the results while they wait, allowing dosing adjustments to take place immediately, which maximises the time spent within the target INR range.