The IBMS has collaborated with the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB) to produce Point of Care Testing: National Strategic Guidance for at Point of Need Testing.
The paper aims to communicate with those responsible for planning and commissioning novel patient services outside of traditional care settings. It outlines the strategic requirements necessary to adopt POCT where it is needed and how to deliver safe and high quality POCT within an accreditable framework.
The paper outlines:
- laboratory experts should be used as a source of trusted advice to support the design, assessment, implementation, and delivery of diagnostic services outside of the traditional laboratory setting.
- engagement across healthcare organisations is critical to understand the flow of diagnostic information, from wherever it is undertaken, to the patient record, with visibility for all clinical staff who have reason to access this information.
- full and properly costed financial resources need to be identified to support high quality, fit for purpose and safe POCT services.
- new technology brings new opportunities for the better use of the existing workforce, creating a more agile workforce.
You can download the full paper here.
