Point of Care Tests in Healthcare: Traditional Review

This traditional review article thoroughly discusses the topic of ''point of care testing (POCT)'', which is a significant component in the field of healthcare. POCT refers to rapid and on-thespot testing that takes place outside the traditional laboratory environment, often right next to or in the vicinity of patients. Point of Care Tests allows for swift analysis of samples taken from patients, ensuring that results are readily obtained. These tests are particularly vital in emergency situations that demand quick intervention and for the enhancement of healthcare services in remote areas. Instead of sending samples to central laboratories, this method provides patients with rapid diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring on-site. Nonetheless, there are drawbacks to this approach, especially related to issues and risks encountered in the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases. For example, it is crucial to maintain the accuracy and reliability of POCT devices, and healthcare professionals must receive adequate training to operate these devices and interpret the results. This article covers various aspects of Point of Care Testing, including the definition of these tests, their advantages, potential risks and disadvantages, technical limitations, a comparison with conventional laboratory methods, and various types of test samples commonly used today. The article explores Point of Care Tests for glucose, pregnancy, ovulation, blood gas, cardiac markers, dipstick urine, fecal occult blood, and human immundeficiency virus. It also emphasizes the significance and application areas of POCT in the literature.