Point of care testing (POCT) is defined as “any test that is performed at the time at which the test result enables a decision to be made and an action taken that leads to an improved health outcome.” This refers to testing done at bedside, a physician’s office or any alternative site where immediate results can be delivered, allowing assessment and management to be given swiftly.
POCT is accomplished through the use of portable instruments (e.g., blood glucose meter, nerve conduction study device) and test kits (e.g., CRP, HBA1C, Homocystein, HIV salivary assay, etc.).
Many point-of-care test systems are in the form of easy-to-use membrane-based test strips, often enclosed by a plastic test cassette. These tests require only a single drop of whole blood, urine or saliva, and they can be performed and interpreted by any general physician or trained nurse within minutes.
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 turnaround 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.
POCT has become established worldwide and finds vital roles in public health.
POCT also comes with its share of deficiencies such as:
- lack of required competency documentation,
- lack of required quality control (QC) performance,
- failure to recognize out-of-range QC values,
- improper or lack of required instrument maintenance and/or documentation,
- lack of appropriate personal protective equipment and
- lack of awareness that testing sites must have appropriate certification for the type of testing performed.
Thus, pursuant to A.O. 2007-0027, POCT conducted in a hospital is required to be under the management and supervision of the licensed clinical laboratory of the respective hospital. POCT performed at the NKTI shall be under the management and supervision of the NKTI Medical Laboratory.
Regular training programs for all personnel involved in POCT shall be conducted and connectivity solutions will be in place to monitor the competence of personnel conducting the tests and the quality of the tests as well.
With the NKTI Medical Laboratory at the helm of POCT at the NKTI, you can be assured of the highest quality of POCT.