Point-of-care testing (POCT) performed at the patient's bedside
provides rapid, real-time results. In some cases this facilitates clinical
decision making and improves the efficiency of clinical operations
[11]. A number of rapid point-of-care tests are available for the diagnosis
of infectious diseases [12]. Among these are single use, visually read,
lateral flow tests for influenza A and B. In a randomized, prospective
controlled study by Bonner et al., the use of a rapid POC influenza test
in a pediatric emergency department was associated with a significant
reduction in laboratory tests ordered (complete blood count, blood cultures,
urinalysis and urine cultures), a decrease in chest radiographs
performed and a reduction in emergency department length-of-stay
[13]. In another study of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency
department with acute pharyngitis, the authors compared antibiotic
use in patients who received a rapid streptococcus A test to those who
were managed by conventional throat culture alone. They reported a
decrease in antibiotic use of 50% when the rapid test was employed
(22.45% versus 41.38%) and concluded that the rapid test significantly
reduced unnecessary prescription of antibiotics [14].