Point of care tests

Such electrodes should be sufficient as a reference electrode for short-term usage or as a disposable electrode. However, the requirement of a pre-hydration time may limit its applications for fast measurements, such as POCT (the point-of-care testing), due to its slow response time. In fact, the lack of long-term stable microreference electrodes will continue to hamper the development of integrated pH sensing systems. 

A.J. Tudos, G.A.J. Besselink, and R.B.M. Schasfoort, Trends in miniaturized total analysis systems for point-of-care testing in clinical chemistry. Lab on a Chip 1, 83-95 (2001). 

Rapid antigen and point-of-care tests, direct fluorescence antibody test, and the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay may be used for rapid detection of virus. 

Microfluidic devices have gained importance and utility for analyses of various molecules, including drugs and their metabolites. Vrouwe et al. [151] developed NCE for point-of-care testing of lithium in blood samples. The device consisted of a glass chip coupled with a conductivity detector. The authors tested this system for lithium analysis in five patients in the hospital. Furthermore, the authors reported that sodium, lithium, magnesium, and calcium were separated in <20 seconds. The authors claimed that the NCE system provided a convenient and rapid method for point-of-care testing of electrolytes in serum and whole blood. 

At the same time we would like to welcome Dr. Gregory Makowski, from the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, who has taken up the Editor s baton. With his research interests in genetic diseases, toxicology, and point-of-care testing, Dr. Makowski is the ideal person to develop this series further. 

Von beckerath N, Pogasta-Murray G, Wieczorek A Schomig A, Kastrati A, Correlation between platelet response units measured with a point-of-care test and ADP-induced platelet aggregation assessed with conventional optical aggregometry. ESC 2005 P2936 (abstract)... 

Korponay-Szabo IR, Raivio T, Laurila K, Opre J, Kiraly R, Kovacs JB, et al. Coeliac disease case finding and diet monitoring by point-of-care testing. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005 22 729-737. 

Blood for analysis may be obtained from veins, arteries, or capillaries. Venous blood is usually the specimen of choice, and venipuncture is the method for obtaining this speci-men. In young children and for many point-of-care tests, skin puncture is frequently used to obtain what is mostly capillary blood arterial puncture is used mainly for blood gas analyses. 

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a rapidly growing component of laboratory testing. It is known by a variety of names, including near-patient, decentralized, and off-site testing and is discussed in detail in Chapter 12. In addition. 

Modified from Maclin E, Mahoney WC. Point-of-care testing technology. 

Modified from loiies R, Infoimatics and point-of-care testing. In Price CP, Hicks JM, eds. Point-of-care testing. Washington DC AACC Press, 1999 175-95. 

I BOX 12-4 Assessing the Need for a Point-of-Care Testing Service... 

The Main Elements of a Point-of-Care Testing Training Program... 

Azzazy HM, Christenson RH. Cardiac markers of acute coronary syndromes is there a case for point-of-care testing Clin Biochem. 2002 35 13-27,... 

Burnett D. Accreditation and point-of-care testing. Ann Clin Biochem 2000 37 241-3. 

Calatzis A, Heesen M, Spannagl M. Point-of-care testing of hemostatic alterations in anaesthesia and intensive care. Anaesthesist 2003 52 229-37. 

Creed GM. Point-of-care testing in the United Kingdom. Crit Care Nurs Q 2001 24 44-8. 

---