Point-of-care testing. An overview and a look to the future

Point-of-care testing is an emerging specialty in laboratory medicine and has attracted considerable interest in the medical literature. This article presents a general overview of point-of-care testing including its history, menu, clinical utility, aspects of analytical performance, regulatory issues, and management in the hospital setting. Some perspectives concerning the possible future of point-of-care testing are also presented in view of current issues in the hospital and clinical laboratory.