A device that saves children from the traumatic experience of collecting venous blood was donated by an association, on the eve of the Holidays, to the largest hospital in Olt.
The device with a value of approximately 12,000 euros makes the difference between a potential nightmare experience and a sample collection in just a few seconds, the desire of pediatricians to have it available is older. Now the analyzer has been installed in the Pediatric Emergency Unit and started to be used.
“Close to the winter holidays, UPU Pediatrics received a Swelab Alfa Standard hematological analyzer by donation, from the “Everything for Life” Association. Our doctors requested this device which helps to collect a much smaller amount of blood from the baby’s finger, without traumatizing it, but providing safety and peace of mind to the parents”. announced the Slatina County Emergency Hospital.
The collected sample, which means a tiny amount of blood compared to the classic method, is enough to perform 22 parameters, and the result is available in less than a minute.
“Before, venous blood was collected, classic, regardless of the child’s age”
Pediatrician Cleopatra Andreea Nicolae explained the difference between the old harvesting method and what is happening today.
“This equipment is a real help in any pediatric emergency department. It helps us especially with infants and newborns, when we can collect a hemogram much faster and without traumatizing the child, which helps us to orientate ourselves in order to establish a correct diagnosis and an appropriate treatment for the condition he has. Before, venous blood was collected, classic, regardless of the child’s age. Even if he was 10 days old, even if he was 10 years old, the harvesting method was the same. For an infant of one, two, three months, sometimes, especially since they are very fluffy, it is very difficult to collect and find without traumatization. Now we will collect from the finger, exactly as a common blood sugar is collected, all non-traumatic. We will not have to look for places or torture the baby, hold him, force him into a certain position. Everything will be much easier and much faster.” said Dr. Nicolae.
The money needed for the purchase of the analyzer was donated to the association “Everything for Life” by a company on the industrial platform of Slatina that also made donations to the hospital in the past, the money being then invested in the purchase of air conditioners, stated the president of the association, Mirela Vasile.
A similar device has been used in the Adult Emergency Department for many years, the analyzer allowing faster analysis with a high degree of accuracy.
