pH Testing for Ongoing NG Tube Verification: A 2026 Study

A new paper in the August 2026 issue of Critical Care Nurse offers a useful example of how a clinical team evaluated an ongoing nasogastric (NG) tube verification workflow.

Emily Castro and colleagues: Use of pH Testing to Confirm Feeding Tube Placement: A Quality Improvement Project. Critical Care Nurse. 2026;46(4):36–43.

What the publication examined

The project took place in a neuroscience unit. It evaluated the feasibility, usability, and adoption of gastric aspirate pH testing together with tube-length measurement for ongoing verification after initial placement had been confirmed by chest radiography. The authors describe staff education, implementation, and evaluation of the practice change.

Why we are sharing it

For teams reviewing an existing workflow, the useful context extends beyond choosing a testing tool. A published implementation example can help frame questions about staff preparation, documentation, escalation when verification is inconclusive, and how a local team will assess its process.

When discussing this paper with your clinical leadership, distinguish initial placement confirmation from subsequent checks. Consider how the study setting compares with your own, and read the authors’ methods and limitations before drawing conclusions about another patient population or care setting.

Read the original research

Read the article on the publisher’s website or view its PubMed record and abstract. Full-text access is controlled by the publisher.

This brief is educational context, not a clinical protocol, a recommendation to omit imaging, or a claim of product-specific performance. Follow your institution’s policies and the applicable product instructions for use. Findings from this project should not be assumed to establish outcomes or cost savings in other settings, including hospice.

Explore more Clinical Evidence, or contact RightBio Metrics with a product or literature question.