What is point of care testing and why do we need POCT?

release time:2021-10-19 10:53:24

What is point of care testing?

Point of care testing is a rapid test performed in the presence of the patient and the person being tested. It is not necessarily performed by a specialist examiner.

The concept of POCT was confirmed in 1994 by a group of multidisciplinary physicians, specialists and administrators attending an international conference of the Society for Critical Care Medicine. Now POCT has become a commonly used term in the field of medicine and public health.

We can understand poct test as a very convenient test.

POCT consists of three elements:

1. immediate and rapid detection.
2. On-site testing. The kit and some hand-carried equipment are transported to the patient, eliminating the complex processing of the specimen for testing in the laboratory.
3. the test can be performed and operated by a non-specialized laboratory technician, or even by the person being tested.

So I can also test myself?

Yes. Many tests such as blood glucose tests and early pregnancy tests can be done by yourself. Most of these tests are still performed in medical institutions. Most of the tests are still performed in medical institutions and are mainly performed by health care professionals.

Why do we need point of care testing when we usually go to the hospital?

The purpose of POCT is to provide rapid analysis and immediate therapeutic intervention. point of care testing can help patients receive earlier treatment. Especially in critical patients, it helps to promote improvement, reduce complications and shorten patient treatment time.

For example, when the patient's life is threatened and emergency resuscitation. The shorter the specimen testing time, the better for doctors to make medical decisions. Subsequently, it increases the chance of treatment selection. Therefore, the characteristics of poct test rapid detection, in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of the role of more and more prominent and important.

Prev Return Next

How to Choose the Right Biochemistry Analyzer

2022-07-25

The biochemistry field of study is vast and complex. It is constantly evolving as scientists uncover new information about the way that cells work. A key part of any biochemistry lab is the auto analyzer tool.

The Effect of Edta Anticoagulant on Biochemical Tests

2022-02-25

In biochemical tests, anticoagulants can be selected to inhibit certain clotting factors in the blood and prevent blood from clotting. In whole blood or plasma tests, a different anticoagulant is usually needed to keep the collected venous blood from coagulating.

COVID-19 testing: Advantages Of Antigen Testing

2022-01-28

Any test has its advantages and disadvantages, the key is to apply it in the right scenario. The operational process, especially the sampling process, needs to meet specifications.

What is point of care testing and why do we need POCT?