ECONOMIC-CONSIDERATIONS OF POINT-OF-CARE TESTING

Point-of-care testing is a rapidly expanding trend. This review discus ses some of the issues driving the development of this new approach to laboratory testing, assesses the factors appropriate in introducing a nd managing point-of-care testing, and directs attention to realistica lly assessing the potential for cost-effectiveness analysis. Although considered optimal, formal cost-effective analysis is limited. A comme ntary on the published literature of the field is presented. Observati ons are offered on the inadequacies of published studies that purport to describe this application. As an alternative, a more general assess ment of the economic effect of point-of-care testing in the general co ntext of the laboratory mission is recommended. Suggested guidelines a re included.