Abstract

Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) has become extremely important in diagnostic laboratory services confirming a clinical suspicion, i.e. including (ruling in) or excluding (ruling out) a clinical diagnosis. This is particularly true in setting such as emergency room, intensive care unit, casualty room, etc. The Royal college of Pathologists, UK and The institute of Biomedical Science, UK produced some POCT guidelines so that internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assessment (EQA) have been maintained ensuring the accuracy of results and therefore, avoiding and reducing in patients misdiagnosis. New emerging devices utilizing molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to provide POCT service for infectious diseases are likely to reach the commercial market in the next few years. The various facets of POCT i.e. technological requirements, POCT service: implementation and management, POCT devices availability, IQC and EQA performance were discussed.

Keywords: Point-of-care; Point-of-care testing; POCT