title: Issues in the practical implementation of POCT: overcoming challenges.
abstract: There are many challenges in implementing a successful point-of-care testing (POCT) program. When compared to traditional testing, POCT results are faster and allow for rapid patient treatment. Unfortunately, the excitement of this technology is often lost due to an assortment of practical obstacles. Implementation of POCT requires consideration of the regulatory complexity and amount of documentation to be compliant. As more tests move to the site of patient care, the number of operators that need to be trained and assessed will grow. An effective POCT program rests solely on the foundation of education and training of each operator, but assuring regular competency updates for a large number of staff can be a management issue. Discussed in this article are several of the key obstacles to implementing a POCT program including laboratory quality regulations, compliance documentation and operational management challenges.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , TN , USA.
authors.forename: Joesph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiencek
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , TN , USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011787:Quality of Health Care
keywords: Challenges; Point of Care; Quality Control; Regulations; Training