Abstract

Point of care testing is also referred to as near patient, bedside, or extra laboratory testing. It helps in bringing the test immediately to the patient via convenient handheld, portable, or transportable devices. POCT devices facilitate ways to improve the quality and outcomes of care while decreasing cost and length of stay especially for critical care practitioners. One of the oldest applications POCT is for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) devices They were originally designed for home self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) for diabetic patients to improve glucose control during regular life activities. However, ease of use of a POCGMD and its rapid reporting of BG information led to its utilization in the inpatient setting. POCGMD represents the largest commercial market for POCT. The newer POCT devices have an advanced level of connectivity with laboratory information system (LIS). They electronically capture and transmit results to a central management point (a central data station and/or a clinical or laboratory information system), ensuring that post-analytical errors are minimized. QC is an immediate check on the integrity of the POCT device. There should be regular review of QC and EQA results as part of quality improvement. The global POCT field is in need of whole-blood standards, harmonization among methods, and improved QC. Granting these 3 wishes will facilitate common sense consistency among measurement procedures performed at the point of care and, in our opinion, will ultimately improve diagnoses, treatment decisions, and patient outcomes. EQA is both desirable and required for POCT devices.

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