Point-of-care testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is defined as diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient care.Kost GJ. Goals, guidelines and principles for point-of-care testing. In: Kost GJ, ed. Principles and practice of point-of-care testing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2002, Chapter 1, pp3-12.] The driving notion behind POCT is to bring the test conveniently and immediately to the patient. This increases the likelihood that the patient will receive the results in a timely manner.

POCT is accomplished through the use of transportable, portable, and handheld instruments (e.g., blood glucose meter) and test kits (e.g., HIV salivary assay). Cheaper, smaller, faster, and smarter POCT devices have increased the use of POCT approaches by making it cost-effective for many diseases, such as diabetes and acute coronary syndrome.

Major benefits are obtained when the output of a POCT device is made available immediately within an electronic medical record. Results can be shared instantaneously with all members of the medical team through the software interface enhancing communication by decreasing turn around time (TAT). A reduction in morbidity and mortality has been associated with goal-directed therapy (GDT) techniques when used in conjunction with POCT and the electronic medical record. [Rossi AF, Khan D, Clin Biochem. 2004 Jun;37(6):456-61.]

POCT has become established worldwideTran NK, Kost GJ. Worldwide point-of-care testing: compendiums of POCT for mobile, emergency, critical, and primary care and of infectious diseases tests. "Point of Care: The Journal of Near-Patient Testing & Technology" 2006;5:84-92.] and finds vital roles in public health"Point of Care: The Journal of Near-Patient Testing & Technology," Special Edition in Public Health, December 2006 Issue.] . Many monographs in the ThaiKost, G.J. Overview of point-of-care testing: Goals, guidelines, and principles. In: Charuruks, N, Ed. Point of Care Testing for Thailand. Bangkok, 2006, Chapter 1, pp 1-28. [in the Thai language] ] Kost, G.J. Point-of-care testing in province hospitals and primary care units (PCUs): Optimizing critical care and disaster response. In: Charuruks, N, Ed. Point of Care Testing for Thailand. Bangkok, 2006, Chapter 10, pp 159-177. [in the Thai language] ] and Indonesian Kost GJ, Tran NK, Tuntideelert M, et al. Katrina, the tsunami, and point-of-care testing: optimizing rapid response diagnosis in disasters. "Am J Clin Pathol" 2006;126:513-520.] languages emphasize POCT as the normal standard of care.

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