Prehospital Point of Care Viscoelastic Testing – Feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prehospital Point of Care Viscoelastic Testing – Feasibility study
IRAS ID
366347
Contact name
Ria Osborne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Western Ambulance Service
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Patients who have sudden significant bleeding (major haemorrhage) are at risk of a complication affecting how the blood clots (Trauma-induced coagulopathy). This happens in about 25% of of all patients who suffer major injury. Preventing this complication begins in the prehospital phase, by trying to stop the bleeding giving blood products and a drug that prevents the break down of clots (to help people clot normally.
Tests to measure how well an individuals blood is clotting are usually only available in hospital. The clinicians use these findings to decide which blood products to give and when. Entegrion have developed the Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor VCM https://www.entegrion-vcm.com/ which is a point of care analyser utilising a new technique. This monitor is small and portable. The monitor is able to give the clinician a reading of how well the blood is clotting. This can help direct which blood products and when they are given to the patient.
The use of the VCM has been tested in a number of settings. When the findings of the portable monitor have been compared to hospital based tests (Viscoelastic testing using Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thrombelastography (TEG)) good correlation between the findings has been established. There is currently no evidence of the use of VCM in civilian pre-hospital care.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) Critical Care Teams respond to approximately 3000 cases a year, of these 60 patients have potentially life threatening bleeding. We plan to test the feasibility of using the VCM in the prehospital setting with patients who have significant bleeding. The findings from the test will not be used to influence clinical practice or decision making. If the test can be used in the pre-hospital environment, further research will be required to test its utility in practice and potential benefit for resuscitation.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0120
Date of REC Opinion
27 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion