Point of care testing standard

PoCT4 – Facilities for testing

Standards for general practices (6th edition)
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      6. PoCT4 – Facilities for testing

PoCT4 | Facilities for testing

Consumer expectation statement: I expect that this practice provides point of care testing in an environment that is clean, private, and uses equipment and consumables in line with manufacturer’s guidelines.

PoCT4.A The practice conducts testing in a safe environment that ensures patient privacy. 

The practice: 

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

PoCT4.B The practice ensures that instruments and consumables are located and managed to optimise performance. 

The practice: 

  • has a testing area that has appropriate space, lighting, power, security and ambient temperature for sample/specimen handling, testing and documenting 
  • maintains records of consumables
  • stores the required quantity of within-date consumables as per the manufacturers’ instructions
  • disposes of used and expired consumables in accordance with local, state and federal requirements 
  • where temperature-sensitive consumables are stored as per the manufacturers’ instructions, uses a minimum–maximum thermometer to monitor temperature, and keeps records of that monitoring
  • has a documented contingency plan for continued operations in the event of equipment and other failures. 


Using and maintaining PoCT instruments and consumables properly helps to ensure accurate test results that clinicians can use when making clinical decisions. 

Ensuring that PoCT is conducted in a private and safe environment reduces the risk of infection for patients and the practice team, and protects patient privacy.


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 document, such as a log, that records consumables, lot numbers, expiry dates and monitoring. It may also include a risk matrix and contingency plans to follow in the event of unexpected events.

For standards and guidelines relating to cleanliness and hygiene, including disposal of sharps, waste management and management of body fluid spills, see the Clinical Governance standard and the RACGP’s Infection prevention and control guidelines. Safe use of PoCT includes following these standards and guidelines in relation to the environments where the practice stores and uses PoCT equipment and consumables.

 
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