Dr Ain and Dr Farhan, Principal Doctors at Poliklinik Ar Razi in Kuantan, Malaysia, discuss the transformative impact of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) on their 24-hour primary care facility.
Serving a community of approximately 2,000 patients monthly, the clinic manages a split of chronic non-communicable diseases – e.g. diabetes and hypertension – and acute communicable illnesses. Before adopting POCT, the clinic faced significant diagnostic delays, with lab turnaround times ranging from 6 to 24 hours. This lag often led to patient frustration, missed follow-up appointments, and difficulties in making immediate clinical decisions, particularly for urgent after-hours cases.
By implementing a suite of rapid tests including HbA1c, Troponin, and NT-proBNP, the clinic has shifted to a model of “instant treatment decisions” and improved patient outcomes. Dr Farhan noted that although justifying the extra cost was initially challenging, patients now appreciate the convenience of fingerprick testing and how it saves them from extra follow-up visits. Looking forward, both doctors envision a “hybrid clinic” model where POCT handles rapid diagnostic funneling, while central labs focus on complex testing, ultimately creating a more modern, efficient, and reliable healthcare experience.
