Measuring International Normalized Ratios in Long-Term Care: A Comparison of Commercial Laboratory and Point-of-Care Device Results

POC devices may not be appropriate for commercial laboratory tests substitution without prior performance evaluation. Running POC INRs concurrent with laboratory-determined INRS can determine test reliability. Timing of Hemosense testing in relation to when laboratory INRs were drawn is one likely explanation for our results, although user differences may also contribute significantly. Further research in larger, more diverse populations, using a variety of POC devices, and with direct comparison of older and younger patients is needed.