Point of Care Testing

Content developed by Clarity Informatics, https://clarity.co.uk/appraisals/nurses/

Content developed by Dr Gerry Morrow MB ChB, MRCGP, Dip CBT

Medical Director Clarity Informatics and Editor, Clinical Knowledge Summaries

https://clarity.co.uk/appraisals/nurses/

INTRODUCTION

Point of care testing can provide evidence to confirm the presence or absence of disease, or to monitor and advise patients with long term conditions – but with every test comes the responsibility to use the results to deliver the best patient care.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After working through this module, you will be able to:

• Define point of care testing
• Discuss why this may be undertaken in primary care
• Describe the ideal characteristics of a point of care test
• Define sensitivity and specificity and discuss their importance
• Examine the potential future of point of care testing
• Describe the available tests for COVID-19 and their limitations.

This resource is provided at an intermediate level. Read the article and answer the self-assessment questions, and reflect on what you have learned.

Complete the resource to obtain a certificate to include in your revalidation portfolio. You should record the time spent on this resource in your CPD log.