One advantage of technology is its ability to take testing and treatments out of hospitals and clinics to remote sites. It allows nurses and doctors to provide testing and rapid diagnostics in homes and at accident scenes. For many first responders, nurses and doctors, point of contact (POC) testing has improved the ability of medical professionals to provide diagnoses where they may be needed.
Description
POC testing is referred to by several other names. These include:
• Bedside testing
• Mobile testing
• Near-patient testing
• Rapid diagnostics
• Remote testing
• Satellite testing
The term incorporates many tests provided for patients that are delivered at a variety of locations and provide fast results. Most POC tools used in these tests are hand-held.
Settings
This type of diagnostic testing occurs outside a lab in diverse places –where the patient lives, works or plays. They are performed in homes where patients are living. They are also employed, among others:
• At accident sites
• At the office of a health care practitioner
• In an emergency department
• On a cruise ship
• In the military
The devices are employed to detect certain medical issues. This allows for fast diagnosis and management of a medical problem. Whether it is a manifestation of a serious disease or a severe infection, POC testing is a major factor in helping to advance a proactive approach to diagnostic testing. The very nature of the tools – portable and readily accessible ensures they serve a variety of applications
Applications
At Trinity Biotech, devices include products for detecting
• Drugs of Abuse (Canada only)
• Fertility (Canada only)
• HIV
• Infectious Disease
Other types of POC tools test for pregnancy and blood glucose levels.
POC Testing
With an increase in hand-held technology, POC testing is beginning to contribute significantly to health care. It is providing a direct link between vulnerable, hard-to-reach patients and quality and timely outcomes more quickly than previously thought. It is the perfect match when medical professionals find themselves in settings in which the healthcare system is in disarray or limited.
