Poised for growth. Point-of-care testing

The United States is the world's biggest market for diagnostic testing, and one of the most active segments within that is point-of-care testing, or POCT. As test devices become more compact and easier to use, as well as more accurate, tests can be more frequently performed at the point of care, whether that is the emergency department, intensive care unit or a patient's home. Among the most common tests are those for blood glucose, blood gases, cardiac markers and sepsis, as well as pregnancy and ovulation. The biggest advantage of POCT is speed. Although home-based point-of-care testing is common, 70 percent of POCT takes place in hospitals, doctor's offices and other provider locations, and experts predict this segment will grow an average of 15.5 percent each year, significantly outpacing home-based testing. This gatefold gives an overview of POCT, discusses the challenges, benefits for hospitals, and provides a glimpse of what experts believe point-of-care testing will look like in the future.