ABSTRACT
Point-of-care (POC) testing is dened as clinical laboratory testing conducted close to the site of patient care, typically by clinical personnel whose
Abbreviations 15 2.1 Point-of-Care Testing Denition 15 2.2 On-Site Drug Testing Methodologies 17 2.3 Quality Assurance versus Quality Control 21 2.4 Quality Management System Essentials 22 2.5 e Role of the Laboratory Director 29 2.6 Quality Control 31 2.7 Laboratory Quality Control Based on Risk Management 33 2.8 Developing a Quality Control Plan for a POC Drug Test 36 2.9 Summary 43 References 43
primary training is not in the clinical laboratory sciences or by patients (self-testing) [1]. POC testing is essentially any laboratory testing conducted outside the central or core laboratory. In the context of drug testing, POC testing can refer to laboratory tests conducted in a satellite laboratory, physician’s o²ce, pain management clinic, pharmacy clinic, rehabilitation center, prison, sports program, or other location where drug testing results are needed to assess patient status. POC testing may be conducted in stationary locations or in mobile transport vehicles, like helicopters, ambulances, cruise ships, and even the space shuttle. is type of testing is sometimes referred to as on-site, near-patient, ancillary, bedside, remote, or satellite laboratory testing. POC testing may involve simple single-use testing devices or may be conducted on more complex laboratory instrumentation.
