Point-of-Care Testing in Microbiology.

ABSTRACT

Point-of-care (POC) or near patient testing for infectious diseases is a rapidly expanding space that is part of an ongoing effort to bring care closer to the patient. Traditional POC tests were known for their limited utility, but advances in technology have seen significant improvements in performance of these assays. The increasing promise of these tests is also coupled with their increasing complexity, which requires the oversight of qualified laboratory-trained personnel.