Laboratory specimen tests, histological exams, physiological tests and image diagnoses are routinely conducted on medical premises.
These include emergency specimen testing such as hematological exams, partial biochemical exams and partial immunology exams.
Emergency tests, especially those carried out by doctors and nurses in the operating theatre, nurse's station and bedside are called Point Of Care Tests or Near Patient Tests.
The purpose is to facilitate quick, accurate diagnosis, thereby increasing the effectiveness of critical care.
POCT/NPT was started due to an increasing requirement in the USA for faster turnaround times, and made possible with the development of high quality portable medical devices with sensor technology.
In this article, the history and most recent information, diagnosis and treatment using Blood Gas Analysis, a mandatory test for critically ill patients, is described.

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【Key Words】point-of-care, blood gas analysis, emergency testing, blood lactate