Point-of-Care (POC)
Point-of-care is a near-patient laboratory diagnostic that enables examinations outside a laboratory, e.g. directly in doctors' practices or hospital wards or at the patient's home. Mostly, the results obtained are qualitative (yes/no), but can also be quantitative. A classic example is the pregnancy test, a quick on-site test that patients can easily perform themselves and that provides immediate results. Point-of-care can also be wearables and smart textiles that, for example, monitor patients' bodily functions and use them for diagnosis.
Point-of-care is a near-patient laboratory diagnostic that enables examinations outside a laboratory, e.g. directly in doctors' practices or hospital wards or at the patient's home. Mostly, the results obtained are qualitative (yes/no), but can also be quantitative. A classic example is the pregnancy test, a quick on-site test that patients can easily perform themselves and that provides immediate results. Point-of-care can also be wearables and smart textiles that, for example, monitor patients' bodily functions and use them for diagnosis.