Point-of-care testing: a cardiologist's view.
The rationale for point-of-care testing is that more rapid provision of biochemical test results performed at the patients bedside will equate with better outcomes. For this to be the case, a number of conditions must be satisfied, and in particular the choice of appropriate markers, an adequate turnaround time (TAT), and an accurate measurement. Point-of-care testing of cardiac markers was found to reduce TAT from 72 (central laboratory) to 20 min thus allowing to decrease total hospital stay.
Stubbs
P
P
Department of Chemical Pathology, St George's Hospital, London SW17 0QT, UK. pstubbs@wgh.demon.uk
Collinson
P O
PO
D015415:Biomarkers; D002309:Cardiology / Q000639:trends*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000191:economics
D015415:Biomarkers