What does POCT (Point of Care Testing) stand for?

What Does POCT Stand For?

POCT stands for Point-of-Care Testing, which refers to clinical laboratory testing performed at or near the site of patient care, outside the central laboratory. 1

Definition and Core Concept

Point-of-care testing is laboratory diagnostics performed near or at the location where clinical care is delivered, combining sample collection, analysis, and reporting of results into an integrated testing structure with a simple user interface. 2 The testing is typically performed by clinical staff such as physicians or nurses who are not laboratory-trained personnel, rather than by laboratory professionals. 3, 4

Key Characteristics

• Location: POCT can be performed in diverse settings including:

  • Critical care environments (ICU, emergency departments) 5
  • Physician offices and primary care settings 3
  • Pharmacies and other healthcare facilities 2
  • Patient bedside 4
  • Even patient homes for self-monitoring 3

• Turnaround Time: The primary advantage is rapid result availability, as POCT circumvents specimen transportation and processing steps required by central laboratories, allowing for immediate clinical decision-making. 3, 5

• Sample Requirements: POCT devices typically require small specimen volumes, making them particularly valuable in pediatric populations. 5

Clinical Applications Referenced in Guidelines

The KDIGO guidelines specifically recommend POCT for creatinine and urine albumin measurement where laboratory access is limited or when testing at the point-of-care facilitates the clinical pathway. 1 The same quality standards that apply to central laboratory testing must be maintained for POCT devices, including external quality assessment and proper specimen collection procedures. 1

Quality Assurance Requirements

• POCT programs require rigorous oversight including quality control, external quality assurance procedures, staff training, and connectivity to laboratory information systems for accreditation under ISO 22870. 3
• Device selection, initial and ongoing verification, reagent and quality control lot changes, and operator management are essential components of POCT quality assurance. 4
• Despite being performed outside the laboratory, POCT must adhere to the same pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical quality criteria as central laboratory testing. 1