Dabla PK, Dabas A. Transformative impact of point-of-care testing in critical care. World J Crit Care Med 2025; 14(2): 100623 [DOI: 10.5492/wjccm.v14.i2.100623]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Pradeep K Dabla, MD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Education and Research, Associated Maulana Azad Medical College, 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, 64 Khamba, Raj Ghat, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India. pradeep_dabla@yahoo.com
Research Domain of This Article
Critical Care Medicine
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Crit Care Med. Jun 9, 2025; 14(2): 100623 Published online Jun 9, 2025. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v14.i2.100623
Transformative impact of point-of-care testing in critical care
Pradeep K Dabla, Aashima Dabas
Pradeep K Dabla, Department of Biochemistry, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Education and Research, Associated Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India
Aashima Dabas, Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India
Author contributions: Dabla PK designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Dabas A contributed to discussion and design of manuscript; Dabla PK and Dabas A contributed to writing and editing of the manuscript; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Pradeep K Dabla, MD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Education and Research, Associated Maulana Azad Medical College, 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, 64 Khamba, Raj Ghat, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India. pradeep_dabla@yahoo.com
Received: August 21, 2024 Revised: January 6, 2025 Accepted: January 14, 2025 Published online: June 9, 2025 Processing time: 189 Days and 23.1 Hours
Abstract
The advent of point-of-care testing (POCT) has revolutionized the approach to patient management, especially for pediatric care. POCT provides rapid, on-the-spot biochemical and microbiological evaluations, bypassing delays typically associated with central laboratory testing, enabling swift clinical decision-making. Additionally, POCT has proven to be a valuable prognostic tool for monitoring electrolyte, lactate, creatinine levels, often a marker of severe illness and poor outcomes. POCT enables its faster identification, allowing for prompt interventions. This capability is essential in managing conditions like sepsis, where timely treatment can significantly impact survival rates. However, the implementation of POCT is not without its challenges. Variability in sample handling, particularly with heparinized syringes, can affect the accuracy of certain measurements, such as potassium levels. The absence of comprehensive follow-up data and cost-effectiveness analyses in some studies indicate the need for continued research to optimize the use of POCT. In conclusion, POCT is a transformative tool in critical care, offering prompt and reliable assessments that significantly enhance patient management. As technology advances, the integration of POCT into emergency departments and intensive critical care units holds great promise for improving the quality of healthcare and patient survival rates.
Core Tip: Point-of-care testing has transformed patient management in emergency and intensive care settings by delivering rapid, on-the-spot biochemical and microbiological evaluations. This allows swift clinical decisions which are pivotal for severe medical conditions such as sepsis. Research highlights a strong agreement between point-of-care testing and central lab results for key analytes such as electrolytes and lactate, which is crucial for accurate assessments and timely interventions. Despite the challenges such as sample handling variability, future advancements, including artificial intelligence, hold the potential for faster and more accurate diagnostics, improving overall healthcare quality.
