POCT Challenges
POCT, despite being designed to be simple and accurate, is not error-free. Proper training and strict adherence to instructions are essential for producing high-quality results. 3 Even experienced health care practitioners must carefully follow test directions and be familiar with test systems; incorrectly performed or interpreted tests can have serious health consequences. 1 When clinical staff and patients perform POCT, their unfamiliarity with quality control and assurance procedures increases the possibility of errors.
Similarly, the per-test costs for POCT can be higher than those for lab testing. Setting up a disciplined approach to quality control procedures, training, and operating protocols can be time-consuming. 4 On the device side, an improper Internet of Things (IoT) architecture can jeopardize the full benefit of POCT by affecting data management, data security, and privacy.
Using a Human-Centered/Risk-Based Approach
Adopting a human-centered design and risk-based testing procedure will necessitate health care organizations leveraging a strong human-centered governance model. Providers must take human factors into account while emphasizing usability engineering in the service and product design processes. By focusing on human behavior and interactions, the design team can identify and eliminate potential safety hazards, improve accuracy and effectiveness, and increase user satisfaction. Health care providers should keep in mind that the usability process will produce better results when applied to device design, training, and quality assurance.
Organizations can improve personnel training procedures by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). While quality practices can help to reduce errors and produce better results, POCT still requires well-trained and competent personnel. Similarly, providers must test devices to ensure adequate operational efficiency, and quality assurance must be continuous to ensure high quality. Health care organizations can train and re-train staff, self-test devices, and enforce quality assurance processes with a strong back-end digital and governance infrastructure that incorporates AI and ML. Providers can also design training materials and workflows to improve perception, cognition, and action
Finally, in order to overcome POCT data challenges, providers must build a data connectivity infrastructure using proper IoT architecture. Many POCT devices are currently not connected at all. POCT will improve quality control, track device condition, and impose appropriate user authorization via training status and clearance by establishing data connectivity and availability with a strong governance model and a POC coordinator.
POCT and Technological Evolution
While POCT will almost certainly never be able to replace clinical laboratory testing, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 antibody and antigen tests, it will continue to evolve and become an important part of people's health care experiences. And, as technology advances, so will the quality of POCT—for example, diabetes delivery and management have changed dramatically.
The use of human-centered design and risk-based testing, as well as AI and ML, has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy and quality of POCT results. Furthermore, human-centered approaches must be central to the POCT ecosystem's device design, training methods, and quality procedures in order to realize the full benefit and potential of POCT for both patients and health care systems.
