Point of Care Testing

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Course Objectives
Be able to:
Explain the value and relevance of POCT in healthcare 
Identify what type of tests can be processed as POCT
Explain the collection and processing procedures for POCTs
Course Content
Course Creator: Nichelle Volker RMA
Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour 
Pace Course #: 586-2402-24 until 9/30/2026 then  
586-3001-26 until 9/30/2028

Objectives: 
  1. Explain how point-of-care testing supports timely patient care and identify the limits of a rapid result.
  2. Apply specimen collection, handling, and quality practices that support reliable point-of-care results.
  3. Recognize testing problems or unexpected results that require a pause, documentation, or escalation according to site policy.

Outline:
  1. POCT in patient care
    1. Why POCT matters to phlebotomists 
    2. What POCT is and where it is performed
    3.  The process before, during, and after testing
    4.  Operator training and authorization
  2. Quality in POCT
    1. Test system readiness
    2. Quality assurance and quality control
    3. Knowledge application: Failed QC
  3. Blood specimens and tests
    1. Specimen requirements and capillary collection quality
    2. Glucose and A1c
    3. Coagulation, chemistry, lactate, and arterial blood gases
    4. Qualitative and other blood POCT
    5. Knowledge applications: Questionable glucose result and unsuitable specimen
  4. Nonblood specimens and tests
    1. Swab collection and respiratory testing
    2. Interpreting a negative rapid result
    3. Rapid strep
    4. Urine collection, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, UACR, and drug screening
    5. Stool testing
    6. Knowledge applications: Inadequate throat swab, negative urine pregnancy test, and delayed dipstick reading
  5. After the test
    1. Recognizing results that need attention
    2. Reporting critical results
    3. Documenting and communicating results
    4. Knowledge application: Critical lactate result
  6. Key takeaways and references

References:
 
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Ready? Set? Test! Patient testing is important. Get the right results.https://www.cdc.gov/lab-quality/docs/ReadySetTest_2025_final_508c.pdf
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Test complexities. https://www.cdc.gov/clia/php/test-complexities/index.html
  3. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. (2020). Collection of capillary blood specimens (7th ed.; CLSI standard GP42). https://clsi.org/shop/standards/gp42/
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Home healthcare medical devices: Blood glucose meters—Getting the most out of your meter. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-health-and-consumer-devices/home-healthcare-medical-devices-blood-glucose-meters-getting-most-out-your-meter
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). A1C test for diabetes and prediabetes.https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/prediabetes-a1c-test.html
  6. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Prothrombin time test and INR (PT/INR). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/prothrombin-time-test-and-inr-ptinr/
  7. Accriva Diagnostics, Inc. (2021). GEM Hemochron 100 system and activated clotting time tests: 510(k) summary. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf20/K202101.pdf
  8. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Basic metabolic panel (BMP). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/basic-metabolic-panel-bmp/
  9. National Library of Medicine. (2023). Liver function tests. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/liver-function-tests/
  10. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Cholesterol levels. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cholesterol-levels/
  11. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Lactate test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/lactate-test/
  12. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Lactic acid test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003507.htm
  13. National Library of Medicine. (2025). Arterial blood gas (ABG) test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/arterial-blood-gas-abg-test/
  14. Higgins, C. (n.d.). Useful tips to avoid preanalytical errors in blood gas testing: pH, pCO₂ and pO₂. Acute Care Testing. https://acutecaretesting.org/en/articles/useful-tips-to-avoid-preanalytical-errors-in-blood-gas-testing-ph-pco2-and-po2
  15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Getting tested for HIV. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/index.html
  16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Laboratory testing for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/php/laboratories/index.html
  17. National Library of Medicine. (2023). Troponin test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/troponin-test/
  18. National Library of Medicine. (2023). Natriuretic peptide tests (BNP, NT-proBNP). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/natriuretic-peptide-tests-bnp-nt-probnp/
  19. National Library of Medicine. (2024). D-dimer test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/d-dimer-test/
  20. National Library of Medicine. (2025). C-reactive protein (CRP) test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c-reactive-protein-crp-test/
  21. National Library of Medicine. (2025). Procalcitonin test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/procalcitonin-test/
  22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Interim guidelines for collecting and handling of clinical specimens for COVID-19 testing. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/clinical-specimen-guidelines.html
  23. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Rapid influenza diagnostic tests. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/hcp/testing-methods/clinician_guidance_ridt.html
  24. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Strep A test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/strep-a-test/
  25. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Clean catch urine sample. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007487.htm
  26. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. (2017). Multistix 10 SG, Multistix 8 SG, Labstix, and Uristix reagent strips: Package insert. https://doclib.siemens-healthineers.com/rest/v1/view?document-id=401929
  27. National Library of Medicine. (2025). Pregnancy test. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/pregnancy-test/
  28. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Assess urine albumin.https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/clinical-tools-patient-management/kidney-disease/identify-manage-patients/evaluate-ckd/assess-urine-albumin
  29. National Library of Medicine. (2025). Drug testing. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/drug-testing/
  30. National Library of Medicine. (2024). Fecal occult blood test (FOBT). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/fecal-occult-blood-test-fobt/
  31. National Library of Medicine. (2023). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) tests. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/helicobacter-pylori-h-pylori-tests/
  32. The Joint Commission. (2025). National Performance Goals™ effective January 2026 for the Hospital Program.https://digitalassets.jointcommission.org/api/public/content/9ca80055182b4274842a5780a94f2c82?v=149a13a9

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