POCT regulatory compliance: what is it and how does it impact you?

Point-of-care testing (POCT), ancillary testing, bedside testing, and near patient testing all refer to the same thing--a form of testing that enables caregivers to determine results of lab tests at the bedside or near a patient on the floor. Performance of this type of testing has increased dramatically in the past several years. Why? There are several reasons. First, many clinicians want results Stat. They want to know immediately where the patient stands as far as blood glucose results, electrolytes, pregnancy tests, hematocrits, and ACTs, to name just a few. Physicians and nurses want to be able to make decisions quickly based on patient results and do not want to have to wait for the answers. Second, many vendors have been releasing better, simpler, more efficient devices that meet the needs of the caregiver by providing lab results in a timely manner. Third, regulatory bodies are recognizing and embracing this type of testing and are creating more complex checklists for compliance when performing these tests. This article focuses on the regulatory component of POCT to educate and familiarize individuals with an overview of the regulatory/accrediting bodies enforcing compliance in the hospital setting.