Point of care testing (POCT) is a medical diagnostic test performed outside of the clinical lab, at or near a patient. These tests allow medical staff to achieve real-time diagnostic results within minutes, enabling staff to make rapid triage and treatment decisions.
UHN has one of the largest hospital point-of-care programs in Canada.
LMP currently oversees nine point-of-care programs within the UHN environment:
- Glucose meter program
- Blood gas analysis
- Routine urinalysis
- Urine hCG testing
- Thromboelastometry/platelet function
- Activated clotting time (ACT)
- Oximetry
- Rapid Strep A antigen detection (buccal swabs)
- Urine drugs of abuse testing
The POCT Team also provides ongoing medical oversight and consultation in best-practice standards in POCT for a number of external facilities and other institutions.
Accreditation
UHN POCT testing programs meet accreditation requirements as outlined by Accreditation Canada – Diagnostics and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care laboratory licensing requirements.
The POCT Team at UHN provides best practice guidance, quality assurance support that includes quality control review, operator training and facilitation of proficiency testing for all POCT programs at UHN.
These POCT programs are practiced across various clinical areas of UHN. A UHN multidisciplinary committee meets regularly to ensure all POCT programs implemented meet the necessary hospital and laboratory accreditation and safety requirements.
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