Point of care testing (POCT)

Definition: Point of care testing refers to tests in which samples/data are collected, rapidly analyzed, and results reported in close spatial proximity to a patient. This is in contrast to a sample being sent off for a laboratory based test or a situation in which the patient must be transported, e.g., to an imaging suite. For instance, pulse oximetry is a use case of POCT that is routinely used in clinical practice. For brain related POCT NIRS applications, brain tissue oximetry is used as POCT during anesthesia, in intensive care or after neurosurgical interventions.

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References: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7297.1285; https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2021.07.015

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