Impact of Point-of-care Lactate Testing as Triage Supplement on Patient Management Using Manchester Triage System

Launched by UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE MARIBOR · Aug 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether adding a quick bedside blood test called lactate measurement can help improve how patients are prioritized when they arrive at the emergency department. Currently, the Manchester Triage System (MTS) is used to decide how urgently patients need care, but it sometimes misses patients who need faster attention, especially older adults. This study focuses on patients who are initially placed in the “yellow” category, meaning they are supposed to be seen within 60 minutes. The researchers want to see if checking lactate levels—a substance in the blood that can indicate serious illness—can help identify those who actually need quicker treatment.

People eligible to join are adults aged 65 to 74 who come to the emergency department and are assigned the yellow category by the MTS. They must agree to participate and cannot be pregnant or have certain conditions like trauma or seizures. During the study, all participants will have their blood lactate measured using a simple finger prick. Those with normal lactate levels won’t continue in the study. Patients with higher lactate levels will be randomly split into two groups: one group will be moved to a higher priority category and treated faster, while the other will stay in the yellow category without doctors knowing their lactate results. This helps the study fairly compare outcomes and see if the lactate test improves patient care. Standard lab tests will still be done as needed during their treatment. The trial is currently recruiting participants.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • signed consent, yellow MTS triage category
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • pregnant women, trauma patients, epileptic seizures, adrenergic therapy in prehospital unit