Emerging Challenges in Point-of-Care Testing

Publication date: Available online 11 November 2019Source: Current Medicine Research and PracticeAuthor(s): Anjali Manocha, Seema BhargavaAbstractPoint-of-Care Testing (POCT), also referred to as bedside or near patient testing, represents the future of diagnostics and is currently dominating innovations in the medical field. This technology has brought diagnostics out of the central laboratory to the patient bedside. POCT offers several advantages over the traditional testing done in the central laboratories. Small compact devices and faster reports leading to rapid diagnosis and consequent appropriate treatment/interventions form a major benefit of POCTs. In addition, they have reduced the sample requirements in comparison to the volumes required by the main labs and have played an important role in testing of labile analytes. However, numerous challenges remain in their usage. POCT reagents are costly and are performed by non- laboratory trained operators who are neither focused on the internal quality control protocols nor the guidelines of the regulatory and accreditation bodies. So training and experience of the staff remains a major issue. Since POCT contributes to better patient management by facilitating early diagnosis, internal quality protocols must be defined and incorporated in the daily routine of testing. ISO 22870:2016 “Point-of-care testing – Requirements for Quality and Competence”, was introduced by ISO and is intended for use in conjunction with ISO...
Source: Current Medicine Research and Practice - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research