Point of Care Testing

Traditionally, laboratory investigations of patients who report to health facilities are done in centrally localised laboratories. The blood sample has to be taken physically to the laboratories where there may be a long delay. The results which may be needed for urgent decision making and management of patients especially in the emergency situations are therefore not readily available. In some situations such as coagulopathy, the management of the patient cannot be based on such results because of the rapidly changing situation in the patient. Point of Care Testing (POCT) tries to eliminate some if not all the delays mentioned above because of the shorter turnaround time. This paper discusses how POCT can be started in health facilities, the protocol, the guidelines and the training of personnel who will be involved in the process. Some of the equipment involved in POCT are discussed, from a simple hand held device such as a glucometer to a more sophisticated machine such as Arterial Blood Gas machine. Application of POCT in specific branches of medicine such as critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery are also discussed. The application of POCT in some emergency situations such as acute myocardial infarction and acute pancreatitis is useful for early confirmation or elimination of those life threatening conditions. Keywords : Point of Care Testing; Central Laboratory Services; Emergency Medical Services