Point-of-care testing in the ICU

Blood testing represents an important aspect of patient management in emergency departments and is essential for the timely application of corrective treatment to the ICU patient. The advent of point-of-care testing (POCT) not only reduces turnaround time and simplifies repeated measurements but may also lead to improved patient outcomes. This article briefly reviews the current status of POCT for sepsis markers.

by Prof. Jean-Louis Vincent

Blood sampling represents an important aspect of patient management, providing vital data to aid with diagnosis and to guide ongoing treatments. Hemoglobin concentrations, renal function, serum glucose, acid/base balance, white blood cell count, coagulation variables, inflammatory markers,