CSP: Point-of-care testing

Common Sense Pathology is a regular, case-based series on practical pathology for GPs. It is a joint initiative of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and Australian Doctor.

Point of care testing is the testing of a sample from a patient, performed in the surgery/clinic, at or near the time of consultation, in order to facilitate a prompt clinical decision regarding patient management. Modern devices use a variety of conventional laboratory analytical processes to analyse samples. 

The author of this booklet is Dr Andrew Francis.