Point-of-care testing (POCT) has been around since ancient times, with records showing that doctors used uroscopy, or the practice of examining urine for substances or visual cues, as far back as the Greek empire.
But as society evolved, so did the POCT technology.
POCT has become a billion-dollar business. Demand for accessible testing has exploded in recent years, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US market for diabetic glucose monitoring alone has increased from $3.5 billion to approximately $7 billion, and this trend can be applied to nearly every other POCT available and marketed commercially.
Defining POCT
POCT includes any test performed by a qualified staff member near the patient with results available at the same clinical visit to support clinical decisions.
Overall, the health care system spends about $2 trillion per year on the approximately 330 million Americans. Although the United States spends more per capita than most other countries, it consistently ranks among the worst performers.
Primary care in medicine is poorly funded and supported, and the demands of a growing population create an opportunity for pharmacists to fill the primary care gap.
POCT allows pharmacies to combat population health issues, expand patient care services, and simultaneously increase revenue. Depending on the state, pharmacists may need additional training or collaborative practice agreements to provide POCT.
POCT’s essential purposes are behavior modification, disease identification and monitoring, and reducing barriers to use.
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