Point-of-Care Diagnostic Virology

Abstract

A point-of-care test (POCT) may be defined as an analytical or diagnostic test that is performed at the bedside or in a near-patient setting, a location distinct from a typical hospital laboratory (1). POCTs are technically less complex than traditional laboratory tests and therefore can be performed by health care professionals or nonmedical personnel. Some laboratories may also use POCTs as a rapid alternative to conventional methods or in facilities where complex testing is limited. Key features of POCTs are listed in Table 1. To be of value, POCTs should afford rapid results and have a high degree of sensitivity and specificity compared to more complex traditional testing performed in a laboratory. With reliable POCT results in hand, providers can make patient management decisions that improve outcomes for the patient or hospital. In some instances the impact may also be a more cost-effective solution compared to laboratory-based testing. POCTs should be simple to perform and interpret by nonlaboratory personnel using uncomplicated instrumentation, contain internal controls to ensure validity of results, have temperature-stable components that allow easy and prolonged storage, and be relatively inexpensive.