Abstract

This study looked at whether a portable blood-testing device, the Abbott i‑STAT®1, could be used to accurately measure the pregnancy hormone hCG in women being assessed for early pregnancy complications in a remote clinic. Measuring hCG helps doctors determine if a pregnancy is progressing normally, has stopped developing, or may be ectopic (growing outside the womb). Women who needed a hCG blood test were invited to take part. Each gave an extra sample for testing on the handheld i‑STAT®1 device, while their routine blood sample was sent to the hospital laboratory for comparison. Sixty‑one women took part, including those with pregnancies of uncertain location, ectopic pregnancies, and molar pregnancies. Fourteen results that were outside the measuring range of the i‑STAT®1 were excluded from analysis. The remaining 47 results showed that measurements from the i‑STAT®1 closely matched those from the hospital laboratory. The findings suggest that the i‑STAT®1 device can provide accurate results quickly enough to support clinical decision‑making in remote early pregnancy units. However, larger studies are needed before the device can be routinely used in clinical practice.