Point-of-care testing (POCT)
Diagnostic testing done at or near the patient instead of in a central laboratory — commercially mature, with hospital-wide and state-wide networks such as Queensland's since a 2001 pilot.
1 · What it gives
Point-of-care testing is analytical diagnostic testing outside the traditional laboratory, usually at or near the patient, giving rapid results for clinical decisions. It replaces centralised laboratory testing, where samples are sent away and results take days or weeks. It is commercially mature: the Queensland, Australia network began with a 2001 pilot and grew to state-wide deployment. Abbott’s i-STAT analyzer is an example of a device used in large clinical networks.
2 · What it replaces 6
| D3 | Genomic selection in dairy cattle breeding instead of progeny testing Replaces: Progeny testing — choosing AI bulls only after their daughters' milk records were available (5–6 years per bull and large testing costs) | BREED |
| D2 | On-farm culture, PCR panels, rapid tests and veterinary laboratory services for livestock and aquaculture — treat what is diagnosed instead of blanket and prophylactic antibiotic treatment Replaces: Blanket treatment of every clinical mastitis case, group metaphylaxis on suspicion, prophylactic antibiotics in hatcheries and ponds, … | DIAG |
| D1 | Metal-contaminated soils, mine tailings and smelter sites managed by phytostabilization, phytoextraction and rhizoremediation (gentle remediation options) instead of excavation, soil washing and inert capping Replaces: Excavation and disposal of metal-contaminated topsoil; chemical soil washing (acids, chelators such as EDTA); bare tailings covered with … | SERV |
| D1 | Bio-based and soil-biodegradable plastics instead of fossil commodity plastics (PET, LDPE, PS) and their microplastics Replaces: Fossil polyethylene/polypropylene/PS/PET in flexible and rigid packaging; intentional microplastics (restricted in the EU since 2023); … | PACK |
| D2 | Biodegradable, bio-based lubricants and hydraulic fluids (vegetable-oil and synthetic esters) — instead of mineral-oil lubricants in forestry, agriculture, marine, rail and water-adjacent machinery Replaces: Mineral-oil hydraulic fluids, chainsaw bar oils, gear and stern-tube oils, greases (and total-loss lubricants lost directly to the … | CHEM |
| D3 | Biomass district heating instead of heating oil and coal Replaces: Heating oil and coal in district-heating and combined heat-and-power plants | FUEL |
3 · How to implement 4 steps
- 1GovernanceForm a multidisciplinary POCT management committee.
- 2PlatformsSelect and validate the testing platforms.
- 3ConnectivitySet up connectivity and data-management interfaces.
- 4Training and competencyDevelop staff training and competency assessment.
4 · Who delivers
Matched suppliers (matched automatically)
| Mintek | South Africa | Research / RTO | active |
| Shield Biological Projects | Israel | Producer | active |
| Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre | Kenya | Producer | active |
| SyncoZymes (Shanghai) | China | Producer | active |
| Vaxxinova Norway | Norway | Not classified | active |
| Abbott Laboratories | United States | Producer | active |
| Becton Dickinson | United States | Producer | active |
| Cryoport Systems | United States | Producer | active |
| Envirotainer | Sweden | Producer | active |
| GE HealthCare Technologies | United States | Producer | active |
| Pelican BioThermal | United States | Producer | active |
| Roche Holding | Switzerland | Producer | active |
Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)
Abbott Laboratories is named as a manufacturer of POCT devices (i-STAT). Other makers and service providers are matched by the portal under Diagnostics.
5 · Rules & route to market
import permit within 30 working days (conventional genetics); gene-edited animals: GMO registration
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)
United States
POCT is governed by national and international rules and standards: the FDA in the US, the MHRA in the UK and ISO 22870 internationally.
European Union
The sources cite the MHRA (UK) and ISO 22870 rather than a named EU instrument; check the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation route for a specific device.
China
The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no China regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.
6 · Money: tenders & grants
7 · Tech stack & innovations
Main risks from the sources: analytical errors when devices are run by staff without laboratory training, poor data connectivity and integration with laboratory or hospital systems, and regulatory or financial compliance challenges.
Sources 5
- Dha.gov.ae — www.dha.gov.ae 2026-10-16
- Academic.oup.com — academic.oup.com 2026-10-16
- Pointofcaretestingassociation.org — pointofcaretestingassociation.org 2026-10-16
- Pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 2026-10-16
- Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk — assets.publishing.service.gov.uk 2026-10-16