Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Recommended point-of-care tests in out-of-hours primary care: a modified Delphi study
Leon Redek1, Rachel Brettell2, Rebecca Elizabeth Payne3,4,5
1Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Background:
Point-of-care tests (POCTs) are increasingly used to enhance diagnostic accuracy and facilitate rapid clinical decision making in settings with limited laboratory access. However, there is currently no consensus on which POCTs should be routinely available in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care services.
Aim:
To establish expert consensus on which POCTs should be considered essential or optional in European OOH primary care services.
Design And Setting:
A modified Delphi consensus study involving an international panel of experts from 20 European countries, representing diverse clinical and academic backgrounds in OOH primary care.
Method:
A three-round Delphi process was conducted. Round one assessed current POCT availability via questionnaire. In round two, panellists rated 28 POCTs as essential, optional, or unnecessary. In round three, results were discussed in a structured in-person workshop, followed by anonymous re-voting. Consensus was predefined as ≥66.6% agreement.
Results:
Six POCTs achieved consensus as essential: blood glucose, urine dipstick, C-reactive protein, pregnancy testing, electrocardiography, and haemoglobin measurement. Twelve tests were classified as optional, and 10 were deemed unnecessary. Key concerns included inappropriate use, variability in clinician confidence, and patient-driven demand.
Conclusion:
This study provides, to the authors' knowledge, the first European consensus on POCT prioritisation in OOH primary care. Implementation of essential POCTs, supported by training and governance, may improve diagnostic efficiency, while optional tests should be tailored to local service needs.
