Point-of-Care Testing refers to tests done in the primary care setting. In acute care settings (eg, critical care units, ambulances), state-of-the-art testing can produce rapid reporting of test results.
Testing in the home care environment requires skill in procedures such as drawing blood samples, collecting samples from retention catheters, proper specimen labeling, documentation, specimen handling, and specimen transporting. Moreover, teaching the patient and his or her significant others how to collect specimens is an important part of the process.