Point Of Care Testing Essay

Abstract Managing critically ill patient is very sensitive to the time factor. This emphasizes the importance of using Point-Of-Care Testing (POCT) in emergency rooms, operation rooms and intensive or critical care unites. On the other hand how we can guarantee the validity of Point-Of-Care Testing and its correlation with the laboratory results. This paper emphasizes on, both the importance and validation of Point-Of-Care Testing results for the critically ill patients.

Introduction Most of the laboratory tests ordered from critically ill patient and acute areas such as operating room (OR), emergency department (ED), and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are performed in the core or stat laboratory. This process is a time consuming

Decentralization of testing away from the traditional laboratory is an example of an activity that cross many boundaries in the healthcare setting as testing is often performed by certified, non laboratory staff such as nurses, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, physician assistants, physicians, and anesthesiologist. Point-Of-Care Testing usually uses simple, small, hand-held devices or test kits. Most tests require minimal amount of blood-one drop obtained by finger prick- or a small amount of urine. Criteria qualifying a test to be done by Point-Of-Care Testing based on its immediate medical need to improve patient care. Point-Of-Care Testing may include, but not limited to, the following tests: glucose, Blood gases, hemoglobin, electrolytes, Basic metabolic panel (BMP), urine dipstick, Urine pregnancy test, and Coagulation parameters (ACT and PT/INR). Point-Of-Care Testing may include either or both waived tests and non-waived