Improving Outcomes with POCT for HbA1c and Blood Ketone Testing

Abstract

Point-of-care testing (POCT) has various names, including point of service testing, near-patient testing, bedside testing, and home monitoring. POCT refers primarily to testing that is performed close to the patient. POCT can occur in outpatient or inpatient settings and can be performed by the patient or the health care provider. POCT is a burgeoning market that comprises 25% of all in vitro laboratory testing; it is growing at an annual rate of 12%. Blood glucose monitoring is the most widely adopted form of POCT; however, use of other diabetes-specific POCT measurements is growing. This presentation discusses the benefits of A1c and blood ketone POCT in diabetes care. A1c Clinical Utility A1c is the traditional “gold standard” for assessing glycemic control, guiding diabetes therapy, and identifying patients' risk of complications. It has been shown that provider awareness of A1c facilitates improvement in metabolic outcomes. Use of A1c POCT offers additional utility; immediate A1c values help verify the accuracy of the self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) results that patients present in the clinic. This is particularly important when patients do not bring their log books or meters into the clinic. The availability of immediate A1c testing allows clinicians to expedite results to patients and readily change treatments as needed to improve glycemic control. It is important to note that validation studies have shown A1c POCT to be equivalent to laboratory reference measurements.1,2