The satellite laboratory and point-of-care testing. Integration of information

Laboratory testing is returning to the point of care, where it started in the 19th century. This decentralization of testing is occurring because of the many advantages it brings to the practice of critical care medicine, such as faster turn-around time and better patient management in inpatient and outpatient settings. However, decentralization of testing is decentralizing laboratory information. In addition, bedside analytical systems are causing a quality assurance dilemma in which data can be seen and acted on before the appropriate quality checks are completed. Current information technology allows these data to be integrated and thus patient care processes to be enhanced through tracking of clinical outcomes and reducing costs. Because the goal of point-of-care testing is to provide data in a timely manner, the future success of any point-of-care/satellite testing system will depend on the ease with which it can be integrated into the medical information system.