POINT-OF-CARE TESTING IN THE INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT - THE INTENSIVE-CAREPHYSICIANS PERSPECTIVE

Technological advancements have, for the first time, made the entire l aboratory testing process feasible at the bedside. Physicians working in the intensive care unit have always had immediate access to patient s' medical history, physical examination, and physiologic monitoring d ata, but had to wait for laboratory results. Using point-of-care testi ng, laboratory parameters targeted to critical illnesses can now be in tegrated into initial diagnostic assessments, on patient rounds, and d uring therapeutic maneuvers. The concept of point-of-care testing in t he intensive care unit is relatively new, but as technology progresses , physicians will undoubtedly become aware and use it in the intensive care unit. This article focuses on the intensive care physician's per spective on laboratory testing, the evolution of the intensive care un it laboratory, advantages of point-of-care testing in that setting, ne w developments in arterial blood gas analyzers and monitors, and cost- effectiveness and incorporation of point-of-care testing.