By Ian A. Lentnek, MD and Angela Neale, PA-C, MBA, MLS(ASCP)
This article explores the expanding role of handheld blood gas analyzers in modern healthcare. It defines point-of-care testing (POCT) and examines its advantages over traditional central laboratory diagnostics, particularly its ability to deliver rapid, actionable results at or near the patient’s bedside. The article reviews diverse clinical and non-clinical settings where POCT supports care, including emergency departments, critical care units, ambulances, disaster zones, and large public events. Special emphasis is placed on the value of point-of-care lactate testing in early sepsis recognition and management, highlighting how faster diagnostics can improve triage, accelerate treatment decisions, enhance workflow efficiency, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:
- Define point-of-care testing and its advantages compared to central laboratory diagnostics.
- List the various settings in which POC testing supports.
- Discuss the uses and impact of POC testing in various settings.
- Describe the benefits of POC lactate testing in sepsis.
Ian A. Lentnek, MD leads Medical Affairs for Point-of-Care Testing at Siemens Healthineers.
Angela Neale, PA-C, MBA, MLS(ASCP) is a Medical Affairs Officer for Point-of-Care Testing at Siemens Healthineers.
Course Includes
- 1 Lesson
- 1 Test
- Course Certificate
MLO and Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (CEUs) for this issue’s CE article. CEUs or contact hours are granted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Northern Illinois University, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. Continuing education credits awarded for successful completion of this test are acceptable for the ASCP Board of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. Readers who pass the test successfully (scoring 70% or higher) will receive a certificate for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. The fee for this continuing education test is $20. This test was prepared by Amanda Voelker, MPH, MT(ASCP), MLS, Clinical Education Coordinator, School of Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Passing scores of 70 percent or higher are eligible for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E. credit. This test is no longer valid for CEUs after January 2027.
NIU is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.