Week 2 - Point of Care Testing (POCT) in Diagnosis of Disease

Flashcards summarizing key concepts and vocabulary related to Point of Care Testing (POCT) from the lecture notes.

Point of Care Testing (POCT)

The analysis of biological specimens outside of the central laboratory.

Benefits of POCT

Includes quick turnaround times, optimized drug treatment, and reduced hospital stay time.

Drawbacks of POCT

Can be expensive due to single-use reagents and may result in lower quality of results compared to trained laboratory staff.

Implementation of POCT

Involves budgeting, verification of devices, staff training, and daily maintenance.

Methodologies in POCT

Includes reflection photometry, electrochemical glucose meters, and immunoassays.

Quality Control (QC)

A means of detecting and preventing systematic errors in POCT results.

Lateral Flow Tests

Simple screening tests that provide qualitative results; requires confirmatory tests for accuracy.

Risk Assessment in POCT

Evaluates potential hazards related to reagents, staff tasks, and patient results.

Blood Gas Analysis

A critical method to maintain acid-base homeostasis, involving measurements of pH, pCO2, and bicarbonate.

Quality Assurance (QA)

Monitoring procedures to ensure diagnostic tests provide valid results and adhere to standards.