POINT-OF-CARE TESTING


Prepare for winter with POC multiplexed PCR respiratory testing


Helen Peat, HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist, and James Cottam, UK General Manager for Cepheid, examine how point-of-care multiplex PCR testing for respiratory viruses alleviates winter pressures on health systems.


Point-of-care (POC) testing allows the decentralisation of laboratory-standard diagnostics, which supports efficient patient management and enables healthcare systems to meet growing


testing demands in the face of financial pressures and staff shortages. Multiplex PCR testing of respiratory viruses at the point of care is an example of this, and is particularly important during the


winter flu season, contributing to more effective handling of the sharp uptake in patients seen in emergency departments in these demanding months. This article discusses the emergence of new POC PCR touchscreen technology that combines intuitive operation with secure LIS connectivity to make it easier than ever to streamline multiplex respiratory testing in emergency settings, reduce turnaround times and improve the flow of patients as we head into winter. In recent years, respiratory health has become a central focus more than ever. We have all seen and experienced the strain of massive surges of SARS- CoV-2, influenza A and B, and respiratory


Point-of-care PCR testing for the diagnosis of respiratory viruses can offer a viable alternative to centralised laboratory testing, helping to move patients through the healthcare system more quickly.


WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM DECEMBER 2024 23


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