Point-of-care testing (POCT) can be defined as clinical laboratory tests performed near the patient's place of care. POCT targets the industry of users requiring rapid results from patient samples that would otherwise be sent to a dedicated remote laboratory (Willmott and Arrowsmith, 2010). According to Junker et al. (2010), a variety of tests can be performed using POCT including measurement of blood glucose, blood gases and electrolytes, urea, creatinine, troponin, bilirubin and coagulation tests. Junker et al. (2010), state that the main uses of POCT devices are in hospitals and doctors' offices, however they are also used in other areas, for example in operating theaters and intensive care departments, in home visits and in the military. Although rapid, results obtained on POCT devices may differ from those obtained in a major laboratory, especially because POCT is generally performed by non-laboratory personnel who may have limited technical knowledge and understanding of quality issues. To ensure an accurate result, it is therefore important that a good quality system is in place to ensure that the test is carried out correctly and that the equipment is properly maintained. The diversity and evolution of technologies in the POCT field have improved significantly in recent years, and this change has been reflected in user demands. You will need to consider the service you can provide to the patient while operating within financial constraints. POCT is known to be more expensive than laboratory tests. Blood gas analyzers are important equipment in acute care settings when results are required quickly. It is possible to perform several analyzes on a single blood sample using blood gas analyzers. Sediame et al. (1999) and...... half of the paper ...... quality testing carried out by blood transfusion services, but in doing so there are different impacts, as mentioned above. According to CPA (2007), medical laboratory standards are set on specific criteria including quality management, laboratory facilities, training, specimen collection and handling, and specimen transportation, to name a few. If POCT were to replace blood transfusion services, there would be a huge impact regarding CPA. It can be concluded that POCT should be used as an adjunct to laboratory tests. POCT can be useful in emergency departments dealing with a high volume of patients and can help reduce patient length of stay in hospital (Hsiao et al, 2007). POCT provides a timely alternative to laboratory testing and will be driven by many of the same factors that will influence clinical laboratories for the foreseeable future. Word count = 2067 (including text in table)