The Point-of-Care Laboratory in Clinical Microbiology

Abstract

Point-of-care (POC) laboratories that deliver rapid diagnoses of infectious diseases were invented to balance the centralization of core laboratories. POC laboratories operate 24 h a day and 7 days a week to provide diagnoses within 2 h, largely based on immunochromatography and real-time PCR tests. In our experience, these tests are conveniently combined into syndrome-based kits that facilitate sampling, including self-sampling and test operations, as POC laboratories can be operated by trained operators who are not necessarily biologists. POC laboratories are a way of easily providing clinical microbiology testing for populations distant from laboratories in developing and developed countries and on ships. Modern Internet connections enable support from core laboratories. The cost-effectiveness of POC laboratories has been established for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections in both developed and developing countries.

FIG 1

Syndromic kit for POC testing containing materials for clinical specimen collection, self-collection, and paperwork.

FIG 2

The POC laboratory in its environment: patients, core laboratory and instruments, software, and reagent suppliers.

FIG 3

Remote POC testing in a rural village in Senegal. The POC test was run using its own source of electricity. (Reprinted from reference .)