Rapid Point-of-Care Assays

Nucleic acid amplification-based technologies have matured, and gold standard clinical virology diagnostics is now undergoing a paradigm shift from being confined within the central laboratory to moving close to the patient. This new rapid Point-of-Care diagnostic approach may lead to positive impact on patient management and patient outcomes, such as better use of contact isolation facilities, prudent use of antimicrobials and shorter length of stay in the hospital. Point-of-Care diagnostics may, however, present potential problems, such as reduced diagnostic quality, loss of data and compromised surveillance, if the implementation process is uncontrolled.