Point of care testing

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POCT analyzer

Description

POCT analyzers are designed to analyze in vitro tests at the site of patient care. They are used, for example, in places of emergency admissions, inpatient departments, operating theaters, or in general practitioners' office. .

The advantages are: a decrease in the response time, the need to examine the sample in the laboratory, the possibility of performing a test from a relatively low volume and the doctor's quick reaction to a change in the patient's condition. These advantages also result in a significant reduction of preanalytical errors (given by transport, poor consumption, etc.). A great current advantage of modern POCT analyzers is the ability of the devices to transmit and store test results and data.

Disadvantages include the more expensive cost of analysis, the reduction in the range of methods, but also the neglect of quality control of some analytes and the implementation of regular technical maintenance.

Specially designed test kits, disposable and single-purpose aids, and in some cases also small single-purpose analyzers are used for POCT.

Function

There is currently a rich selection of POCT devices on the market. These allow the implementation of one or more POCT methods. They use diagnostic strips for one or more analytes or immunoassay cassettes for qualitative or quantitative examinations. Cartridges contain biosensors. The detection of the instrument is based on the measurement of reflectance, fluorescence or optical signal. A very small amount of sample is sufficient to determine the patient's parameter, in the case of capillary blood in the order of microliters. In addition to blood, POCT methods test parameters in urine, venous blood, or stool.

Examples of POCT:

• urine test using diagnostic strips;
• determination of glycemia by a personal glucometer;
• determination of CRP immunoturbidimetrically with a single-purpose pre-programmed turbidimeter;
• immunochromatographic determination of hCG (pregnancy test);
• immunochromatographic drug tests;

etc.

Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd.m is a company specializing in POCT products, which are multifunctional analyzers and portable devices focused on the recognition of cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, kidney injuries, sex hormones, thyroid function, diabetes, tumors, etc. E.g. Many Finecare Meter devices, such as the Finecare II FIA Meter, use fluorescence detection to analyze various types of analytes in human blood or urine. The Finecare II FIA Meter is able to measure mainly CRP and HbA1c.  The largest connection of Finecare Meter devices is in China

Use by general practitioners

Types of collection

Capillary blood collection: performed from a well-perfused finger, from the abdomen of the finger.

Odběr venózní krve: ve vztahu k POCT metodám připadá odběr venózní krve v úvahu jen v případě pro stanovení troponinu T a k odběru se používá bezkontaktní systém.

Urine collection: about 10 ml of urine is sufficient. The middle stream of the first morning urine is taken, after external cleansing of the genitals and from women outside the menstrual period.

Stool collection: for the quantitative determination of hemoglobin in the stool, it is necessary to perform a quantitative collection with a collection device adapted for this purpose - an ampoule with a screw cap, which includes a collection tip stool.

POCT performance methods

parameters for monitoring the internal environment, determination of electrolytes, analyzers for determination of blood count and coagulation, glucometers, other possible determined parameters are cardiomarkers, CRP, cholesterol, chemical examination of urine, hCG and drugs.

Freely available POCT tests

These are home tests to which the patient has access himself. However, they do not reach comparable values ​​of sensitivity and specificity as a professional examination, lay interpretation of the results has its limits and positive results should always be consulted with a doctor.

These tests include tests to determine pregnancy or that are related to the attempt to conceive (hCG determination, ovulation test, male infertility test), tests for occult bleeding in stool, tests for urinary tract inflammation, allergies, CRP and the like.