Point of Care (POC) tests are conducted at or near the site of patient care. These tests are designed for easy use and rapid results and require minimal equipment. Point of Care (POC) tests are crucial in improving healthcare accessibility and efficiency, as they provide immediate information to healthcare providers, enabling quicker decision-making and treatment. Common examples include blood glucose monitoring for diabetics, pregnancy tests, rapid strep tests, and home COVID-19 tests. The advent of point-of-care (POC) tests has been particularly transformative in remote or resource-limited settings where access to full-scale laboratory facilities is challenging.

Additionally, these tests benefit emergencies, outpatient care, and chronic disease management. Despite their convenience, Point of Care (POC) tests may have limitations in accuracy and sensitivity compared to traditional lab tests. Thus, their results are sometimes confirmed with comprehensive laboratory testing. Nonetheless, ongoing technological advancements continually enhance the reliability and range of point-of-care (POC) testing capabilities.