Advantage and Disadvantage of Quality Assurance based on Point of Care Testing/POCT

Laboratory examination especially for critical care such as emergency care, intensive care has been developed near the site of patient care which is referred to point-of-care testing (POCT). As to the definition of POCT, there are many synonyms such as ancillary testing, satellite testing, and bedside testing, near patient testing, home testing, self-management, patient self-management, remote testing and physician’s office laboratories. Based on evidence-based POCT, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) has recommended some POCT such as coagulation tests, transcutan bilirubin testing, marker for acute coronary syndromes, diabetes mellitus, drugs and ethanol, Infectious disease testing, occult blood test, pH testing, renal function test, intraoperative PTH, renal function test and reproduction test. Some researchers conclude that performing POCT for critical care is efficient, while others found it not efficient, therefore, careful assessment of the advantages and disadvantages is important when implementing POCT. Nurses are the personnel in the acute care unit who often perform POCT; however they desire that laboratory personnel take the responsibility, therefore it is important to discuss which personnel are appropriate to conduct quality control of POCT.