The next IFCC webinar: “The use and implementation of POCT in rural areas” – will be held on 25 September, 2025.
This session will explore the implementation and impact of point-of-care testing (POCT) in remote and rural healthcare settings. Dr. Rodríguez-Capote will introduce the concept of POCT, highlighting its role in testing patient samples outside traditional laboratories, often performed by clinical staff without laboratory training. She will discuss cost implications and the importance of demonstrating a clinically meaningful advantage in decision-making compared with central laboratory testing. Principles of evidence-based laboratory medicine will be applied to evaluate the benefits, limitations, and challenges of POCT in rural areas. Dr. Thakur will present the experience from Newfoundland and Labrador, where harsh climatic conditions and an aging population required the creation of a provincial POCT division. This presentation will describe the comprehensive management of POCT, including procedure development, accreditation, training, quality assurance, and utilization management. Examples of acute disease management and infectious disease screening tests will illustrate how a standardized POCT framework can enhance operational efficiency and improve health outcomes. Finally, Prof. Khan will discuss the potential of POCT to reduce healthcare disparities in rural and underserved regions. His presentation will emphasize the importance of integrating POCT into well-defined clinical pathways to achieve meaningful improvements in patient care, supported by a case study that demonstrates improved outcomes following the implementation of POCT in a rural setting.
This webinar comprises of three following presentations of 20 min each followed by 20 min of panel discussion at the end.
Chair: Prof. Adil I. Khan
Talk 1 – “POCT in rural and remote settings, what is the evidence?” – Dr. Karina Rodríguez-Capote
Talk 2 – “Implementation of POCT” – Dr. Vinita Thakur
Talk 3 – “Improved clinical outcomes using POCT” – Prof. Adil I. Khan
Target Audience:
- Laboratory specialists
- Laboratory managers
- Clinicians
- Researchers
Learning Objectives:
- Define point-of-care testing (POCT).
- Discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of POCT in rural settings.
- Evaluate the evidence regarding whether POCT provides clinical advantages in decision-making.
- Identify a clinical pathway for the implementation of POCT
All speakers have completed the conflictof interest declaration and have no conflicts to disclose.
- Time Zones: Live presentations starting at: 12:00AM EDT-New York ; 6:00PM CET-Rome; 12:00PM CST-Beijing;
Important: Please ensure that you carefully determine the time that the presentation will start in your global time zone. Click here to convert to your time-zone.
- Recorded webinar: available on demand
- Certificate of participation: available for all registrants
