STEPHEN R. ASH

Gay Case, RN, Renal Care Group, Jackson, Mississippi, described the methods used to determine hemodialysis adequacy for home dialysis patients. Since 1996, home patients have drawn blood samples at the start of dialysis and 30 minutes before the end of dialysis, and sent the samples by mail to the facility. Studies indicated that the urea measurement in such samples was 3% lower than samples spun and assayed immediately, but calculation of urea reduction rate was not affected. Home hemodialysis patients can perform adequacy tests at home to ensure that they are receiving sufficient dialysis.