Future Connectivity for Disaster and Emergency Point of Care.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this paper is to identify strategies for connectivity that will optimize point-of-care testing (POCT) organized as small-world networks in disaster settings. METHODS: We evaluated connectivity failures during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, applied small-world network concepts, and reviewed literature for point-of-care (POC) connectivity systems. RESULTS: Medical teams responding to the Haiti Earthquake faced connectivity failures that affected patient outcomes.

Thermal stress and point-of-care testing performance: suitability of glucose test strips and blood gas cartridges for disaster response.

Objective: Point-of-care testing (POCT) devices are deployed in the field for emergency on-site testing under a wide range of environmental conditions. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of glucose meter test strips and handheld blood gas analyzer cartridges following thermal stresses that simulate field conditions.

Methods: We evaluated electrochemical and spectrophotometric glucose meter systems and a handheld blood gas analyzer.

Quantitative Point-of-Care Pathogen Detection in Septicemia.

Pathogen nucleic acid detection exhibits faster turnaround times and higher sensitivity compared with blood culture. When antibiotics are present, blood cultures experience higher false-negative rates. In contrast, nucleic acid tests may detect pathogens irrespective of antimicrobial therapy.