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f Point of Care Diagnostics Testing in Acute Care Settings Focusing on the Rapid Analysis
Point of care diagnostics refer to medical testing performed at or near the site of patient care, bypassing the centralized laboratory. This decentralized approach utilizes portable, high-precision instruments to provide immediate results, which is essential in emergency departments, intensive care units, and ambulances where time-sensitive decisions are critical for survival.
By eliminating the need for specimen transport and manual processing, these devices significantly reduce the turnaround time for critical assays. Rapid access to arterial blood gas levels or cardiac troponin concentrations allows clinicians to differentiate between respiratory failure and myocardial infarction within minutes, ensuring that targeted treatment begins immediately.
The technology behind point of care testing (POCT) involves sophisticated biosensors and microfluidics. For example, handheld analyzers use electrochemical sensors to measure pH, pO2, and pCO2 in a single drop of whole blood. These sensors detect the electrical potential or current generated by chemical reactions on the electrode surface, converting biological…