The Transformative Impact of Point-of-Care Diagnostics

February 21, 2025 Health Tech Magazines

By Paul Aitken MD MPH, Chief of Population Health & Associate Dean for Clinical Integration, Stony Brook Medicine

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics are transforming healthcare delivery by offering quick, on-site testing and immediate results. Their capabilities are becoming integral in various healthcare settings, including ambulances, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and patients’ homes. These tests are included in a range of broader changes driven by emerging technological capabilities aimed at making healthcare services more accessible, personalized and time efficient.

The Driving Forces and Surge in Use of POC Diagnostics

While the use of POC diagnostics had a notable upward inflection in uptake driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been on the rise over the past decade. Market analyst predictions vary but put the range of the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at approximately 9-10% from 2024 to 2030.

Several factors drive the increased adoption of POC diagnostics. The COVID-19 pandemic called out the critical need for rapid testing and POC diagnostics enabled timely diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals. Innovations in diagnostic devices have significantly enhanced the accuracy, reliability, and usability of POC tools. These advancements make it possible to conduct complex tests outside traditional lab settings. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia makes frequent monitoring necessary. POC diagnostics provide efficient, real-time data to support real-time therapeutic adjustments. An aging population also requires more frequent health monitoring. These diagnostics address this need for elderly patients by providing simple and accessible testing options. The demand for more personalized precision medicine supports the use of POC diagnostics to deliver individualized care based on real-time diagnostic data. Finally, regulatory bodies have recognized the value of these tools in improving healthcare outcomes and have streamlined their review processes to support more timely market entry and access.

POC diagnostics are reshaping healthcare delivery, offering numerous meaningful advantages in the face of challenges which can be reasonably managed.

Prevalent POC Diagnostics

The more common POC diagnostics span a wide range of applications:

Blood glucose monitors are used extensively for managing diabetes, and glucose meters are among the most common POC diagnostic tools.
Infectious disease tests (IDTs) are for infections including HIV, influenza, COVID-19, and streptococcus, which are common in primary care and emergency settings.
Urine strips testing have multiple uses, such as IDT, chronic disease monitoring and drug screening.
Hemoglobin POC tests are commonly used to screen for anemia in various settings, including primary care, emergency departments (EDs), and blood donation drives.
Home pregnancy tests are a well-known example of POC diagnostics.
Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) tests are critical for patients on anticoagulant medications like warfarin.
Blood gas and electrolytes analysis testing is essential in critical care settings for managing patients’ respiratory and metabolic status.
Rapid cardiac biomarker diagnosticssuch as troponin, are used in EDs to diagnose acute coronary syndromes.

Limitations of Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Accuracy and reliability are critical for any diagnostic test. POC tests can be less accurate than centralized laboratory tests, with the potential for higher rates of false positives or negatives. Accuracy, reliability and quality control of testing are also contingent on proper training of staff performing POC tests, necessitating ongoing education. POC tools typically offer a narrow range of tests compared to full laboratories. Integrating POC test results into electronic health records (EHRs) can be challenging, leading to potential issues with data consistency and patient management. While cost-effective in some scenarios, the initial investment and ongoing maintenance of POC devices can be substantial. The use of POC diagnostics can be complicated by issues with integrating into EHRs. Seamless integration can be technically challenging, but it is necessary for accurate documentation and reimbursement.

Billing Issues in POC Diagnostics

Despite the benefits, the adoption of POC diagnostics has its challenges. Reimbursement can be inconsistent, with variations in coverage policies among insurance providers and geographical regions. This inconsistency needs to be navigated to minimize financial uncertainties for providers. Proper coding for POC tests can be complex, requiring specific knowledge of current procedural terminology (CPT) codes and international classification of diseases (ICD) codes. Accurate coding adds an administrative burden, but it is essential for appropriate reimbursement. Ensuring regulatory compliance and billing accuracy requirements is also burdensome, but essential.

Conclusion

Point-of-care diagnostics are reshaping healthcare delivery, offering numerous advantages in the face of challenges which can be reasonably managed. POC testing can offer rapid results, improved patient outcomes and increased access to care. However, the adoption of these tools also presents challenges, particularly in terms of billing and reimbursement. As technology advances and healthcare systems continue to evolve, addressing these challenges will be crucial to fully realizing the potential of POC diagnostics in enhancing patient care and optimizing healthcare delivery.