Point of care testing standard

PoCT6 – Data management

Standards for general practices (6th edition)
Download PDF
      8. PoCT6 – Data management

PoCT6  | Data management

Consumer expectation statement: I expect that my results from point of care testing are included in my health record.

PoCT6.A The practice records PoCT results in the patient’s health records. 

The practice: 

  • keeps PoCT records, including who performed the tests and the date.

Aspirational criterion

PoCT6.B The practice facilitates the recording of PoCT results using a nationally recognised coding system.

This criterion is aspirational. The practice could:

  • use a clinical information system that facilitates coding of PoCT in patient health information.


Maintaining appropriate records is a way of managing risks. By recording results of a specific examination in the patient’s history examination, this enables informed clinical decision-making, which is essential for safe and high-quality care. Keeping records of PoCT results and associated processes with the relevant patient’s health information is also in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines.  


If the practice needs to investigate the reliability of a test result, it will need to: 

  • identify the PoCT practitioner who conducted the test 
  • identify the kit or batch of reagents used 
  • identify whether quality control results were within the acceptable range 
  • review the transcription so that the possibility of errors and non-conformance events can be ruled out. 

To ensure the results are accessible for future consultations, trend determination and quality improvement activities, the practice could code the information, rather than entering free text in the patient record.

The practice needs to demonstrate that it can readily retrieve from its health record systems all data related to a patient testing cycle.  

 
Previous Next

Advertising