POCT methods include manual methods, such as urine dipsticks and test kits, hand-held devices, and benchtop instruments.
Rapid test kits and dipsticks usually provide qualitative or semi-quantitative results. These are used in the differential diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Dipsticks for chemical analysis of urine are pads impregnated with chemicals. The presence of a chemical reaction will result in a color change that can either be read manually or with a small benchtop instrument designed for that purpose. These benchtop instruments operate with the light reflection principle at specified wavelengths representing specific color change and intensity. Test kits used in POCT most often employ lateral flow test methods and, more recently, optical immunoassay. Some rapid testing methodologies have been adapted to small benchtop instrumentation to incorporate chromatographic immunoassay, fluorescent immunoassay, and molecular technologies.
