|
AIMS - POSITION STATEMENT - 28 October 2002
POINT OF CARE TESTING (NEAR PATIENT
TESTING)
INTRODUCTION
Point of Care Testing (POCT) is a rapidly growing area
and is fuelled by the need for immediate diagnostic information and the
emergence of new technologies which do not require trained laboratory
personnel or complex equipment.
Technological developments now allow a wide range of
tests to be done within hospital wards, consulting rooms and in the home.
Tests for the control of diabetes, anti-coagulation, detection of pregnancy
and metabolic abnormalities are now commonly performed within medical and
non-medical environments.
These developments raise issues such as:
| . The most effective methods for delivering POCT in
hospital and non-medical . environments |
| . The ongoing assessment of test quality and clinical
relevance of POCTs |
| . The cost of POCT to individuals and the community |
| . The role of manufacturers and the laboratory in
ensuring ongoing test quality and relevance. |
THE FUTURE
The future is likely to see the development of more
reliable devices, broader test ranges, more home and clinic testing and more
sophisticated reporting and monitoring.
Cost pressures will lead to shortened hospital stays
and more rapid movement from an inpatient to an outpatient setting.
The shift to self testing will increase substantially
and the challenge for health professionals will to ensure reliable
interpretation without current clinical support.
THE POSITION OF AIMS REGARDING POCT
AIMS recognises that POCT is a supplement to, and not
a replacement for, high quality reference laboratory services.
AIMS supports the ongoing development of high quality,
sensitive and specific POCT.
AIMS considers it essential that medical scientists be
involved in:
| . The introduction of new technology for POCT
|
| . The calibration and maintenance of equipment
|
| . The training of users of POCT devices |
| . Reviews of quality control
|
| . Reviews of the cost-effectiveness of the use of the
new technology in community and hospital settings. |
AIMS supports HIC funding for private medical and
hospital testing if adequate calibration, maintenance and quality control
and QAP procedures are in place.
AIMS commends all scientists to a high level of
vigilance when dealing with hospital or community POCT and recommends the
establishment of co-ordinated error reporting and error assessment
processes.
AIMS supports the introduction of technology where
there is outcome-based evidence to support its implementation, and its
performance meets current acceptable standards of performance. It does not
support introduction of technology for the sake of technology. There must be
a significant clinical or cost benefit to the community with the
introduction of any new technology.
|