Coagulation Monitoring Moves Towards POC Testing in Europe

In Europe, coagulation monitoring is moving towards point-of-care (POC) testing, which ensures quick generation of results and better patient care.

Coagulation testing is a common practice used for patients under oral anticoagulation therapy as well as those undergoing cardiac surgeries including cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. The early monitoring of anticoagulants during or before surgery is crucial as it enables surgeons and physicians to control the level of bleeding.

Research analyst Gayathry Ramachandran, from Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, CA, USA), an international growth consultancy company, noted "POC coagulation tests have made life simpler, as they enable patients to be well informed about the disease state, thus boosting patient confidence and reducing hospital visits.”

With the increase in the number of patients under anticoagulant therapy, it is very important to closely monitor the prothrombin time (PT) and the international standardized ratio (INR). This is being achieved by installing POC instruments in emergency units, outpatient wards as well as patient homes to enable self-testing. This reduces the burden on hospitals as well as physician offices and prevents dangerous effects of anticoagulants and other bleeding disorders.

The growth of POC is generated by quick turn-around-times (TAT) and easy-to-use technology. At the same time, laboratory tests continue to be preferred in some European countries since they are cost-effective and well reimbursed when compared to POC tests.

Presently, laboratory tests generate delayed results and do not support fast treatment processes. Hence, there is a need to produce timely results that will result in improved patient care. With an increasing number of tests moving towards POC, the volume of tests in laboratories is adversely affected. To overcome this challenge, laboratories are slowly adopting high-volume analyzers to perform special coagulation tests, which have not yet reached the POC market.

"The laboratory testing arena is facing challenges related to the lack of qualified lab personnel,” explained Ms. Ramachandran. "Tests conducted in the laboratories by non-laboratory personnel are giving rise to inappropriate quality control.”

In this situation, it is crucial to maintain international quality in the results of laboratory and POC tests. The most effective strategy is to conduct training programs for laboratory and non-laboratory personnel to maintain the high quality of results. This should include instrument handling and patient preparation, among others.


Related Links:
Frost and Sullivan