American journal of clinical pathology
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Jan 2019
ReviewBenefits and Pitfalls of Point-of-Care Coagulation Testing for Anticoagulation Management: An ACLPS Critical Review.
Point-of-care (POC) testing is generally less precise and has higher reagent costs per test than laboratory-based assays. However, POC hemostasis testing can offer significant advantages in particular situations: patient-managed warfarin therapy as well as rapid turnaround time heparin management for intraoperative patients. Of note, POC hemostasis testing is generally approved for the purposes of anticoagulation monitoring and is inferior to laboratory coagulation testing for the diagnosis of congenital or acquired coagulopathy. ⋯ POC coagulation testing for anticoagulation monitoring offers advantages in particular situations. Clear policies and protocols must be developed to guide proper use of POC versus central laboratory hemostasis testing.