Near patient testing in primary care

Near patient testing in primary care.

A review of near patient testing in primary care.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim was to identify publications relating to near patient testing (NPT), the use of alternative delivery systems between laboratory and general practice, including electronic data interchange (EDI), and computerised diagnostic decision support (CDDS), in the primary care setting to answer the following questions. What is the availability of NPT for primary care? What evi...

Near patient testing for influenza in children in primary care: comparison with laboratory test.

Influenza is an important cause of acute respiratory illness in young children. Common complications include febrile convulsions, otitis media, bronchiolitis, and croup. In epidemic years attack rates among preschool children often exceed 40%. During these years children with influenza may account for up to 30% of the increase in antibiotic prescribing. Symptoms and signs of influenza in childr...

BNP testing in primary care Haemochromatosis testing in primary care Vitamin D testing in primary care

A primary care evaluation of three near patient coagulometers.

AIM To compare the reliability and relative costs of three international normalised ratio (INR) near patient tests. MATERIALS Protime (ITC Technidyne), Coaguchek (Boehringer Mannheim), and TAS (Diagnostic Testing). METHODS All patients attending one inner city general practice anticoagulation clinic were asked to participate, with two samples provided by patients not taking warfarin. A 5 ml...