POINT-OF-CARE TESTING (POCT)

After laboratory hours, our facility offers point-of-care testing in the Emergency Department.

Point of Care Testing (POCT) is defined as medical diagnostic testing performed outside the clinical laboratory in close proximity to where the patient is receiving care.  POCT is typically performed by non-laboratory personnel and the results are used for clinical decision making. POCT has a range of complexity and procedures that vary from manual methodologies to automated analyzers. POCT devices are often ‘hand held’ or may be small portable analyzers. POCT is generally more expensive than in lab testing but is appropriate and cost effective in some clinical settings because testing is performed near the patient and informs immediate decisions for clinical management of the patient. POCT tests available at HSRFH include blood glucose, blood gases, chemistry, hematology, coagulation, cardiac markers, and pregnancy tests.