POCT involves testing in close proximity to a patient, with results that can be acted upon immediately.poct test This can be done by various healthcare professionals, or even patients themselves (self-test), at multiple locations including the hospital bedside, the emergency department, the clinic, an ambulance, or a patient’s home. POCT is used to support and enhance clinical patient management decisions. It is a critical element of the healthcare continuum and is increasingly being used in remote settings where access to sophisticated centralized laboratory analysis is either impractical or unavailable.
The rapid development and wide availability of POCT is driven by unmet healthcare needs, the growing demand for value-based care, and technological advances.poct test POCT is currently being used in many areas of healthcare, from pregnancy tests to glucose testing for diabetes. It is being used to monitor patients’ blood sugar levels in real-time to help guide their daily medication regimen, detect elevated enzymes in heart attack, diagnose rheumatic diseases, and provide early diagnosis of respiratory infections.
Generally speaking, the most common POCT methods involve immunoassays that utilize antibodies to detect specific antigens or disease markers in a sample.poct test These tests have lower sensitivities and specificities than traditional laboratory and molecular tests, but are often able to provide an answer within minutes.
A common example of POCT is the finger prick or heel prick blood glucose monitoring using a portable handheld device called a glucometer, which can provide an immediate result.poct test These devices require only a small volume of whole blood, have built-in calibration and quality control, do not need refrigeration for meters or reagents, can be operated by non-laboratory personnel with limited training, produce results comparable to traditional laboratory analyzers, and can be integrated into the EMR to allow immediate communication of results to the treatment team.
While the benefits of POCT are significant, there is a concern that inaccuracies can occur.poct test Inaccurate results can affect treatment, especially for tests performed outside of the laboratory setting and for waived tests (eg, PT/INR) and patient-specific tests such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C viral load testing.
A key source of error in POCT is improper specimen collection.poct test This is most common when samples are drawn from central lines or from venous or arterial sites. It is recommended that clinic staff who collect venous or arterial samples receive supervised training. In addition, proper disposal of swab containers is required to prevent contamination. A swab that has been contaminated with a pathogen must be disposed of in a designated biohazard receptacle. Additionally, a clear and detailed record must be made to ensure that a test is completed and the results communicated for appropriate treatment. This includes documentation of the date, time, and operator of the test as well as a report of any critical values. This information is critical to ensuring patient safety and the integrity of POCT. For this reason, it is important to implement a system that supports data management and integration of POCT.