That's how the hospital came to implement POCT for fecal occult blood. We knew that if the tests were performed in the units, they would be done quicker. Besides fecal occult blood testing, Western Pennsylvania Hospital uses POCT for glucose testing, blood gas testing, pregnancy testing in the emergency department, and intraoperative blood testing in the operating room. Before implementing any POC test, the laboratory thoroughly evaluates it for effectiveness, necessity, and cost. POC technologies from different vendors are compared with each other and with existing test methodologies.
Quality is always the final consideration.
Because of this upfront evaluation process, the laboratory has never eliminated POCT once it's been implemented. However, it has temporarily halted POCT because of quality control problems or because unauthorized personnel were using the instruments.