Point-of-care testing in haemostasis.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Pathology
• Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)

Background:

• POCT in hematology has significantly increased in test availability and annual performance.
• POCT is often implemented to reduce result turnaround times, aiming to improve patient care.
• Key applications include monitoring International Normalized Ratio (INR) for warfarin, Activated Clotting Time (ACT) during cardiopulmonary bypass, platelet function assays, and thrombelastography.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the expanding role of POCT in hematology, particularly in hemostasis.
• To underscore the importance of accurate and precise results generated by POCT.
• To address the challenges associated with POCT, including operator training and quality control.

Main Methods:

• Review of current applications and trends in hematology POCT.
• Discussion of specific POCT assays used in hemostasis.
• Analysis of quality control and external quality assessment (EQA) for POCT.

Main Results:

• POCT is increasingly used for various hematological tests, including hemostasis monitoring.
• Challenges exist regarding operator training and adherence to strict quality control programs compared to central laboratories.
• Existing external quality assessment programs for POCT assays are limited.

Conclusions:

• The use of POCT in hematology, especially in hemostasis, is expected to grow.
• Robust systems are essential to guarantee the accuracy and precision of POCT results.
• Addressing quality control and operator training is vital for the safe expansion of POCT.