LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Point-of-care testing can bring important diagnostic information directly to patients in their homes. For home health agencies operating in the United States, CLIA-waived POCT devices for home health agencies can support faster clinical decisions without requiring every patient to travel to a laboratory or clinic. But choosing a POCT device is not simply a matter of buying a small analyzer. Home health agencies need to consider CLIA requirements, intended use, specimen collection, analytical performance, quality control, operator training, connectivity, consumable costs, and the practical realities of testing in patients' homes. The FDA's current CLIA database lists numerous waived test systems, including blood glucose monitoring systems, urine testing systems, HbA1c analyzers, infectious disease tests, and other point-of-care technologies. Agencies should verify the current waiver status of the exact test system before purchasing. What Does CLIA-Waived Mean for Home Health Age...

 A point-of-care bilirubinometer can provide rapid bilirubin measurements close to the patient, making it particularly useful in newborn care, maternity units, pediatric clinics, neonatal wards, and facilities where laboratory turnaround time may delay clinical decisions. For healthcare professionals, choosing the right device involves more than looking for the fastest result. Measurement principle, sample requirements, analytical performance, quality control, maintenance, and cost per test all matter. In neonatal care, rapid assessment of bilirubin is important because significant hyperbilirubinemia can lead to serious neurological complications if it is not recognized and managed appropriately. This makes bilirubin testing an important application of point-of-care testing, particularly where access to a central laboratory is limited. What Is a Point-of-Care Bilirubinometer? A bilirubinometer is an analytical device used to measure bilirubin concentration in a blood specimen. Depe...

Laboratory testing is no longer limited to hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories. Today, there are several laboratory tests you can do at home, ranging from simple urine tests to portable blood glucose monitoring and home specimen collection for laboratory analysis. For patients, home testing can provide convenience, privacy and rapid information. For laboratory professionals and healthcare providers, however, it is important to understand what these tests actually measure, how reliable they are, and when a home result needs confirmation by a qualified laboratory. The FDA recognizes home-use tests as tools that can help detect certain conditions, monitor diseases such as diabetes, and provide information about conditions such as pregnancy. It also emphasizes that home testing should complement, rather than replace, appropriate healthcare. 1. H. pylori Tests H. pylori testing at home is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among people experiencing recurrent indigestion,...