Abstract
The aim of diagnostic point-of-care testing is to minimise the time to obtain a test result, thereby allowing clinicians and patients to make a quick clinical decision. Because point-of-care tests are used in resource-limited settings, the benefits need to outweigh the costs. To optimise point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings, diagnostic tests need rigorous assessments focused on relevant clinical outcomes and operational costs, which differ from assessments of conventional diagnostic tests. We reviewed published studies on point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings, and found no clearly defined metric for the clinical usefulness of point-of-care testing. Therefore, we propose a framework for the assessment of point-of-care tests, and suggest and define the term test efficacy to describe the ability of a diagnostic test to support a clinical decision within its operational context. We also propose revised criteria for an ideal diagnostic point-of-care test in resource-limited settings. Through systematic assessments, comparisons between centralised testing and novel point-of-care technologies can be more formalised, and health officials can better establish which point-of-care technologies represent valuable additions to their clinical programmes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 239-249 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Lancet Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2014 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
Diagnostic point-of-care tests in resource-limited settings. / Drain, Paul K.; Hyle, Emily P.; Noubary, Farzad; Freedberg, Kenneth A.; Wilson, Douglas; Bishai, William Ramses; Rodriguez, William; Bassett, Ingrid V.
In: Lancet Infectious Diseases, Vol. 14, No. 3, 03.2014, p. 239-249.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnostic point-of-care tests in resource-limited settings
AU - Drain, Paul K.
AU - Hyle, Emily P.
AU - Noubary, Farzad
AU - Freedberg, Kenneth A.
AU - Wilson, Douglas
AU - Bishai, William Ramses
AU - Rodriguez, William
AU - Bassett, Ingrid V.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - The aim of diagnostic point-of-care testing is to minimise the time to obtain a test result, thereby allowing clinicians and patients to make a quick clinical decision. Because point-of-care tests are used in resource-limited settings, the benefits need to outweigh the costs. To optimise point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings, diagnostic tests need rigorous assessments focused on relevant clinical outcomes and operational costs, which differ from assessments of conventional diagnostic tests. We reviewed published studies on point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings, and found no clearly defined metric for the clinical usefulness of point-of-care testing. Therefore, we propose a framework for the assessment of point-of-care tests, and suggest and define the term test efficacy to describe the ability of a diagnostic test to support a clinical decision within its operational context. We also propose revised criteria for an ideal diagnostic point-of-care test in resource-limited settings. Through systematic assessments, comparisons between centralised testing and novel point-of-care technologies can be more formalised, and health officials can better establish which point-of-care technologies represent valuable additions to their clinical programmes.
AB - The aim of diagnostic point-of-care testing is to minimise the time to obtain a test result, thereby allowing clinicians and patients to make a quick clinical decision. Because point-of-care tests are used in resource-limited settings, the benefits need to outweigh the costs. To optimise point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings, diagnostic tests need rigorous assessments focused on relevant clinical outcomes and operational costs, which differ from assessments of conventional diagnostic tests. We reviewed published studies on point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings, and found no clearly defined metric for the clinical usefulness of point-of-care testing. Therefore, we propose a framework for the assessment of point-of-care tests, and suggest and define the term test efficacy to describe the ability of a diagnostic test to support a clinical decision within its operational context. We also propose revised criteria for an ideal diagnostic point-of-care test in resource-limited settings. Through systematic assessments, comparisons between centralised testing and novel point-of-care technologies can be more formalised, and health officials can better establish which point-of-care technologies represent valuable additions to their clinical programmes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894312020&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84894312020&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70250-0
DO - 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70250-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 24332389
AN - SCOPUS:84894312020
VL - 14
SP - 239
EP - 249
JO - The Lancet Infectious Diseases
JF - The Lancet Infectious Diseases
SN - 1473-3099
IS - 3
ER -