Realizing the potential of point-of-care testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT) has come of age during the past decade. Device manufacturers in particular have been responsive to the trend toward POCT being conducted in primary care environments and are now producing devices that are as straightforward as possible to use with appropriate training. To further realise the full potential of point-of-care testing, scientists, manufacturers, users and governments need to work together to develop cost effective, simple solutions for conducting POCT under an acceptable quality framework, in localities where it is most needed clinically.