PT / INR Point of Care (POC) Testing

It is important to understand the profile of the typical oral anticoagulant patient to appreciate the challenges in Point of Care (POC) Testing.

The Typical Oral Anticoagulant Patient:

• 89% are over age 50, 70% are over 65
• Has had serious illness or medical procedure
• Possible vision / hearing loss
• Declining dexterity, motor skills, sense of touch
• Will likely use oral anticoagulants for life

Challenges in Traditional Clinic/Lab PT Testing

Traditional PT testing involves performing the PT/INR test at a clinic or lab, with multiple steps for both patient and professional. The age and condition of the typical oral anticoagulation patient make traditional testing challenges clear:

• Many patients must drive to a clinic or lab
• Long wait time for test results: 45 mins - 1 hour
• Only medical personnel can perform the test
• Complex multi-step testing procedure
• Time-consuming management of patient therapy

As technology improves, PT testing is migrating from traditional labs to Point of Care sites such as clinics, physician offices, and even the patient's home, yet certain shortcomings still exist, such as in the area of quality control.

Challenges in Quality Control for Current
Point of Care Testing Devices
Since erroneous or inaccurate PT results can have a damaging effect on patients, it is essential that the device passes quality control tests to confirm the reliability and accuracy of the test. Existing devices require some or all of the following from the patient or medical professional to perform proper quality control:

• Purchase of secondary external control devices
• Complicated multi-step quality control procedure
• Use of multiple drops of blood
• Costly additional control strips/liquid chemicals
• Longer time to complete PT test plus control
• Results of control must be recorded/maintained

The INRatio meter, a next generation Point of Care device, to address the many challenges of oral anticoagulant therapy, traditional lab testing, and quality control.

Learn about The INRatio Meter >>