Standards for point-of-care testing

PoCT Standard 3 - Implementation and performance

Criterion PoCT3.1 – Facilities for testing

Criterion PoCT3.1 – Facilities for testing

Indicators 

PoCT3.1  A Our practice conducts testing in a safe environment that ensures patient privacy.  

PoCT3.1  B Our practice ensures that instruments and consumables are located and managed to optimise performance. 

Optimising the operation and maintenance of PoCT instruments and consumables is important in delivering high-quality test results that clinicians can use when making clinical decisions. 

Ensuring that PoCT is conducted in a safe environment is important in reducing the risk of infection for patients and the practice team. Additionally, it is important that the PoCT environment is considerate of patient privacy when conducting PoCT.   

When conducting PoCT, ensure the area has adequate space for instruments, consumables, documentation and waste disposal and does not compromise patient privacy.  

Provided that patient privacy is maintained, the area does not need to be solely dedicated to performing PoCT. For example, a consultation or nurse’s room may be suitable. 

The practice could have a procedure document or log that includes recording of consumables, lot numbers, expiry dates and monitoring. This may also include a risk matrix for documenting contingency plans in the event of unexpected events. 

Related Criteria 

Criterion GP4.1 – Infection prevention and control, including sterilisation 

Criterion GP5.1 – Practice facilities  

Criterion C3.3 – Emergency response plan

PoCT3.1  A Our practice conducts testing in a safe environment that ensures patient privacy. 

You must: 

  • demonstrate that testing and result communication is performed in a safe area where patients’ visual and auditory privacy is ensured. 


PoCT3.1  B Our practice ensures that instruments and consumables are located and managed to optimise performance.  

You must: 

  • have a testing area that has appropriate space, lighting, power, security and ambient temperature for sample/specimen handling, testing and documenting 
  • maintain a consumables inventory, including lot numbers and expiry dates 
  • store the required quantity of within-date consumables as per the manufacturers’ instructions
  • dispose of expired consumables in accordance with local, state and federal requirements 
  • where temperature-sensitive consumables are stored as per the manufacturers’ instructions, use a minimum–maximum thermometer to monitor temperature, and keep records of that monitoring
  • have a documented contingency plan for continued operations in the event of equipment and other failures. 

Advertising