Point of Care Testing (POCT) has always been a confusing and grey area of laboratory testing. Never-the-less, it has been steadily moving forward and was a key feature during the COVID-19 pandemic. As POCT advances, old issues remain unsolved, and new challenges and questions are arising. The very definition of POCT was always grey, and now it seems to be expanding to more complex testing. Who should be performing POCT? How is quality ensured? Is laboratory involvement necessary? Are the same "rules" applied across Canada? This presentation will explore these questions and will provide a peek at what Accreditation Canada is planning for the near future in regards to accreditation of POCT testing.

Start date: Upon registration

Completion: Up to 52 weeks

At the end of this webinar you will be able to:

1. Explore the definition of POCT and other challenges related to POCT.
2. Learn about how POCT is used and monitored across Canada.
3. Understand the role of Accreditation Canada in POCT quality and what our future plans are.

Speaker: Julie Coffey MLT, ART

Julie Coffey is a Senior Program Advisor for Accreditation Canada Diagnostics. She has a former background as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, with specific expertise in Hematology. She is an active member of ISO TC 212 & TC 304, and has served on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Expert Panel on Quality Systems. Most importantly, she is on a quest to elevate the confidence of laboratory personnel in their own abilities by providing empowering, relevant and interactive education.

Recorded: April 25, 2025

PEP hours: 1.0

CPS credits: 0

*Note: PEP hours and/or CPS credits will only be awarded upon successful completion of the quiz.