Plasma volume status is vital in testing critically ill patients but is extremely difficult and costly to obtain, particularly as a POC test. Plasma volume assessment affects almost every aspect of a patient’s care, including giving IV fluids, diuresing, starting vasopressors, initiating renal replacement therapy, deciding on transfusion requirements and intubation and extubation.1,2

Nova’s Prime Plus® blood gas analyzer automatically calculates patient plasma volume status using the Strauss formula, which requires measured hemoglobin (Hb) and measured hematocrit (Hct) in order to calculate ePV (estimated plasma volume). Prime Plus reports ePV as part of a comprehensive panel including tests for kidney function, electrolytes, metabolites, gases, and acid/base. It also stores prior ePV values and displays them as a patient trend (∆ePV) graph.

1. Kalantari, I et al. Assessment of intravascular volume status and volume responsiveness in critically ill patients. Kidney Int, 2013.83(6): 1017-28.
2. Kobayashi, M et al. Estimated plasma volume status in heart failure: clinical implications and future directions. Clinical Research in Cardiology.
Published online before print 6 Jan 2021.