bedsideTest

BedsideTest refers to diagnostic procedures and point-of-care tests performed at or near a patient’s bedside with rapid turnaround times. These tests are designed to provide immediate clinical information to support assessment, monitoring, and decision-making without the delay of central laboratory processing.

Common bedside tests include blood glucose monitoring, urine dipstick analysis, rapid antigen or antibody assays, capillary hemoglobin measurement, bedside coagulation tests, and arterial blood gas analysis. Techniques range from simple colorimetric strips and lateral flow assays to portable electronic analyzers.

Advantages of bedside testing include faster results, potential for earlier treatment, improved workflow, reduced need for sample transport, and enhanced patient convenience. These tests are widely used in emergency departments, intensive care units, outpatient clinics, and home care settings.

Limitations include variable accuracy and precision compared with central laboratory methods, operator dependence, potential for pre-analytical errors, and limited test menus. Quality control, staff training, and adherence to manufacturer instructions and regulatory standards are important to maintain reliability and patient safety.

Implementation considerations cover device selection, integration with electronic health records, calibration, documentation, and oversight by clinical laboratory services. Emerging developments in bedside testing focus on miniaturization, multiplexing, connectivity for data management, and incorporation of digital decision support to expand diagnostic capabilities at the point of care.