Status Check: Point-of-Care Testing in Hospitals

The in vitro diagnostics industry has looked for years to point-of-care testing in hospitals as a growth segment. The premise is sound--easy-to-use tests performed near the patient will yield faster results that enable physicians to make better on-the-spot treatment decisions. In reality, hospital demand is increasing, but not as fast as expected. A recent survey of one-third of US hospitals with 150 beds or more, by Enterprise Analysis Corp. seeks to understand POCT usage and demand trends.