PRIORITY business intelligence

Point-of-care testing (POCT) refers to any testing conducted outside a lab, in a hospital, in a clinic or by a health care organization providing ambulatory care. Point-of-Care Testing should be medically prescribed and all results should be entered into the client record.  This includes testing performed at sites outside the traditional lab dedicated to medical biology, near where care is delivered to the client. Point-of-care test results may lead to a change in the care of the client.

POCT ranges between three levels of complexity, from simple procedures such as glucose testing, moderate-complexity procedures (including provider performed microscopy procedures), or high-complexity procedures such as influenza testing.  Health care professionals delivering POCT usually use test kits, which may include hand-held devices to read blood, saliva, or urine samples.

The relevant accreditation standards are:

ISO 22870:2006: Point-of-care testing (POCT) -- Requirements for quality and competence

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