I. Definition of POCT
POCT, or point-of-care testing, is also known as bedside testing. It refers to clinical testing performed next to the patient [[1]](https://xueqiu.com/2694478763/2358724). This testing method is usually not necessarily performed by a clinical laboratory technician. Its biggest feature is that it can be analyzed immediately at the sampling site, eliminating the complex processing procedures of the specimen during laboratory testing, so that the test results can be obtained quickly.
II. Advantages of POCT
(I) Quick results
- In emergency medical situations, such as emergency scenarios, every second is crucial. POCT can give test results in a few minutes or even less, and doctors can quickly make a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan based on this result. For example, for patients with acute myocardial infarction, rapid detection of myocardial markers (such as troponin, etc.) can help doctors determine the severity of the disease in a timely manner so that corresponding treatment measures can be taken immediately.
(II) Convenience
- POCT devices are often small and easy to carry. This allows them to be brought to the patient's side, whether at the bedside, emergency room, ambulance, clinic in remote areas, or even at the patient's home. This convenience greatly improves the accessibility of medical services, especially for patients who are unable to move or go to large laboratories for testing in time.
(III) Simplified operation process
- Compared with traditional laboratory testing, POCT is relatively simple to operate. It does not require complicated specimen collection, transportation and pretreatment. Some POCT devices only require a simple drop of blood or a small amount of other samples (such as urine, saliva, etc.), and then follow the operating instructions of the device to perform a few simple operations. Non-professional medical staff can also operate proficiently after proper training.
III. Application areas of POCT
(I) Cardiovascular disease diagnosis
- POCT plays an important role in the management of cardiovascular diseases. As mentioned above, myocardial markers can be tested. In addition, coagulation function tests can also be performed. For patients with cardiovascular diseases who are receiving anticoagulant therapy, the dosage of anticoagulants can be adjusted in time by quickly testing coagulation indicators through POCT to ensure the effectiveness and safety of treatment.
(II) Diabetes management
- For patients with diabetes, blood glucose monitoring is an important part of daily disease management. POCT blood glucose meter is the most common POCT device. Patients can use it at home to monitor blood glucose levels conveniently and quickly, and adjust diet, exercise and insulin dosage according to the test results.
(III) Infectious disease detection
- POCT is also widely used in infectious disease prevention and control. For example, during the flu season, POCT reagents that quickly detect influenza virus antigens can help doctors quickly diagnose whether patients are infected with influenza viruses, so that they can be isolated and treated in time, and also help control the spread of influenza in the community. In terms of AIDS screening, POCT can also preliminarily detect AIDS antibodies in the blood, and if the result is positive, further confirmatory tests will be conducted.
IV. Challenges faced by POCT
(I) Detection accuracy
- Although POCT equipment continues to develop and improve, the accuracy of some POCT tests still varies compared with traditional laboratory tests. This may be due to factors such as small sample size and relatively complex testing environment (such as the bedside environment is not as stable as the laboratory). Therefore, when using POCT results, it is necessary to carefully evaluate their accuracy, and in some cases further laboratory confirmation testing may be required.
(II) Quality control
- Since POCT devices are widely distributed and may be used in different medical institutions or even at home, this poses a challenge to quality control. Ensuring the calibration of each device, the storage and use of reagents are the key to ensuring the quality of POCT testing. If quality control is not in place, false positive or false negative results may occur, thus affecting clinical decision-making.
V. Development prospects of POCT
- With the continuous development of technology, the accuracy and reliability of POCT will continue to improve. New biosensors, microfluidics, etc. will further optimize the performance of POCT devices. At the same time, as people's demand for health management increases, especially in chronic disease management and family health care, POCT will play an increasingly important role. In the future, POCT is expected to be combined with telemedicine, big data and other technologies to achieve remote transmission and analysis of test results, and provide patients with more comprehensive and personalized medical services.