Biochemistry & POCT

The clinical biochemistry laboratories of EORLA are committed to providing excellence in patient care, teaching, and research. Clinical biochemistry testing is performed at 18 regional sites with national reference laboratories at The Ottawa Hospital and CHEO. These reference sites are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation providing a full menu of tests including general and special chemistry, therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology, hormone analysis, tumour markers, immunology, serology, renal calculi, and porphyrin analysis.  The other 14 lab EORLA sites have onsite blood gas analysis, general chemistry, urinalysis and a limited immunoassay menu. The 18 EORLA sites are collectively staffed with six Academic Clinical Biochemists who are available 24/7 for technical and clinical queries as well as being active in research and teaching. All clinical laboratories participate in internal and external assessment processes to ensure testing services meet accreditation requirements.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) refers to testing performed outside the central laboratory, near to the patient and often at the patient bedside. According to laboratory accreditation requirements, POCT programs within hospital settings are overseen by the laboratory, which sets quality assurance practices and standards.   POCT glucose testing is the most common test performed point-of-care in hospital settings and is in place across all EORLA member hospitals.  Other examples of POCT performed within EORLA are urinalysis, urine pregnancy screening, amniotic fluid pH, blood gases, coagulation and drugs of abuse screening.