Point-of-care testing article summaries self-study series

This series of publication summaries aims to provide varied therapy area learning on point-of-care testing (POCT). Each publication is preceded by a brief summary explaining the relevance of the publication to POCT in primary care. Topics covered are: •The European HbA1c trial to investigate the performance of HbA1c assays; •GH5 proficiency survey data for standardisation of HbA1c testing; •Trueness assessment of HbA1c routine assays;•Quality of POCT devices for HbA1c •POCT and HbA1c clinical need and analytical quality; •Evaluation HbA1c POCT devices using international quality targets C-reactive protein (CRP) POCT to guide antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infection (RTI); •Health technology assessment of CRP POCT to guide antibiotic prescribing for RTI; •Impact of CRP POCT in ambulatory care.