ROTEM - The bleeding management system

Although ROTEM^® technology uses the same principle of rotational thromboelastometry, where a clot forms in the presence of an oscillating shear force, the ROTEM^® is designed to offer a number of distinct advantages when compared to TEG^®:

 

• ROTEM^® results are faster, typically available in within 10 minutes, because ROTEM^® uses more rapid activators
• ROTEM^® has 5 pre-packed assays: INTEM, EXTEM, FIBTEM, HEPTEM and APTEM
• FIBTEM _{measures the clot firmness after inhibition of platelets and provides information about fibrin polymerization and fibrinogen concentration}
• APTEM (inhibits fibrinolysis) to rule out hyper-fibrinolysis
• ROTEM^® delta qualifies for EQC CLIA Option 2 requiring only weekly liquid controls after validation
• Small footprint in the central laboratory or operating room stat lab
• ROTEM^® equipment is vibration resistant and self-calibrating
• ROTEM^® instruments are user-friendly; including an automated pipette system, touch screen navigation and an on-board computer

 

 More than 1600 ROTEM^® instruments are used clinically in 50 countries around the world.  The system has been well documented in the scientific literature.  For specific clinical references, please contact us.

Have ROTEM^®’s benefits been studied clinically?

There are a many peer review published studies that have documented the ROTEM^® benefits in cardiovascular surgery and cardiac device procedures, surgery, liver transplant and trauma). For specific clinical references please contact us.

What are the benefits of using ROTEM^® analysis?

o   Valuable real-time results and clinical information within 10 minutes

o    Evidence based information for blood product replacement modalities

o    Cost savings through blood products conservation

o    Decreased length of stay

One significant advantage of ROTEM^® technology is in the speed of its results.  Many hospitals position their ROTEM^®s in the stat lab of the operating room for rapid turnaround. Others use the ROTEM^® in the central lab, If run in the central lab then the logistics of transporting the citrated blood samples is hospital dependent and the workflow needs to be validated. The results can be viewed in the operating room utilizing remote viewer in real-time from either location.

What is the economical justification for introducing ROTEM^®
Hospitals that have implemented ROTEM^® technology have observed reduced usage of blood products and their associated costs. The benefits of including ROTEM^®-based targeted blood management therapy in their transfusion protocols have been demonstrated in several studies. For specific studies and clinical references, please contact us.

How should I collect blood samples to be used in ROTEM^®?
ROTEM^® works effectively with citrated whole blood, the same sample which is used for most coagulation tests. Blood samples collected in standard citrate tubes are available for immediate analysis and are stable for up to four (4) hours.

Can the results be viewed remotely if the test is run in a central lab?

Yes, there is real-time remote viewing over the hospital’s intranet if the laboratory elects to perform the test in the central lab with the clinician viewing in the OR. Issues to consider are turn around time (TAT) and the logistics of getting the citrated blood sample from the OR to the lab.

Can ROTEM^® data be exported or interfaced to the LIS?

ROTEM^® comes with a powerful intuitive software package and a sophisticated data handling system. The database stores all results, including the reaction curves. Data can be printed with a standard printer, transmitted to the LIS, or can be easily exported into MS Excel^® or other software for further processing.

* note: TEG^® is a registered trademark of Haemonetics Corporation and MS Excel^® is a registered trademark of Microsoft.