Abstract
This is the third edition of this authoritative book on point of care testing (POCT) edited by Christopher Price, Andrew St John and Larry Kricka for the AACC Press.
This edition focuses less on the history and the technology of POCT, and more on POCT's emerging role as an enabler of health-care reforms and in delivering a patient-centred service. Have the seeds of POCT finally grown into a flourishing specialty field in its own right? This book would suggest that POCT is more than just blood glucoses, gases and international normalized ratios.
One of the aims of the book is to discuss the challenges facing POCT implementation: how to produce evidence of effectiveness, how to change clinical practice, how to maintain clinical governance of a more distributed lab medicine service and how to remodel the resource allocation. Although there are no easy answers to these questions, the subject and issues are well discussed by a wealth of international authors. The latter is both a strength and a weakness however, as health-care arrangements across the globe, and even within the devolved UK National Health Service, differ widely.
One of the questions I attempted to answer as I read the book was ‘Who is it aimed at?’ Previous editions were essential reading material for any clinical biochemist with a POCT role within their organization. They provided useful advice and hints on how to deliver a laboratory managed POCT service. The focus on patient-centred delivery systems and POCT's role in health-care reform in this edition provides opportunities for a wider readership including policy-makers and commissioners as well as the decision makers in the laboratory. This book has something for all.
However, it is not all about health-care reform, lean thinking and the management of POCT. One of the most important contributions in the book is the view of diagnostics from a patient's perspective. This account of a typical day of a patient with chronic illness makes an excellent chapter, which puts into perspective why we need a patient-centred approach to health care.
Technology and innovation still gets good coverage in this edition with an emphasis on the emerging technologies such as magnetic-based detection, and innovative technology such as glucose sensing contact lenses!!
I found the section on POCT and its clinical applications most valuable. It provides an excellent evidence-based resource on when to use POCT (and when not to use POCT).
This edition brings together the latest technology, the best practice in quality management, the current evidence of effectiveness, the challenges and the role of POCT in health care today. It is essential reading for any POCT Clinical Lead.