Status of point-of-care testing: promise, realities, and possibilities

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 427 - 440
• Main Author: St-Louis, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2000
• Subjects: Blood Specimen Collection - methods; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - instrumentation; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - trends; cost effectiveness; Humans; Medical Informatics Applications; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); outcomes assessment; point-of-care systems; Point-of-Care Systems - economics; Point-of-Care Systems - trends; quality assurance; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results; technology assessment; outcomes assessment; point-of-care systems; quality control; quality assurance; technology assessment; cost effectiveness
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-9120(00)00138-7

Point-of-care testing (POCT) has evolved from the demand for analytical information more rapidly than is available from central laboratories. By bringing the analysis closer to the patient several process steps have been eliminated, facilitating a shorter time to result and faster management response with improved outcomes. Thus benefits include better therapeutic turnaround times, decreased blood loss as a result of reduced phlebotomy secondary to clinical improvement, and diminished resource utilization. These advantages depend on acceptable analytical performance in comparison with central laboratory methods and in relation to clinical criteria. Generally these requirements are met but there are problems particularly with atypical specimens. Outcomes and cost–benefit analyses have been difficult to perform and evaluate. Given the multitude of participants, quality assurance and program management are recognized as resource intensive. However, recognition of problem areas is driving continuous improvement and we envisage expansion of this paradigm.