title: The Point-of-Care Laboratory in Clinical Microbiology.
abstract: Point-of-care (POC) laboratories that deliver rapid diagnoses of infectious diseases were invented to balance the centralization of core laboratories. POC laboratories operate 24 h a day and 7 days a week to provide diagnoses within 2 h, largely based on immunochromatography and real-time PCR tests. In our experience, these tests are conveniently combined into syndrome-based kits that facilitate sampling, including self-sampling and test operations, as POC laboratories can be operated by trained operators who are not necessarily biologists. POC laboratories are a way of easily providing clinical microbiology testing for populations distant from laboratories in developing and developed countries and on ships. Modern Internet connections enable support from core laboratories. The cost-effectiveness of POC laboratories has been established for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections in both developed and developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France michel.drancourt@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drancourt
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France Aix Marseille Université, Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, INSERM IRD, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michel-Lepage
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, INSERM IRD, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic