Pharmacy-based point-of-care testing for infectious diseases: Considerations for the pharmacy curriculum

With the recent changes in U.S. health care delivery, patients and public health officials are embracing opportunities for pharmacists to provide more clinical services, expand access to care, and improve public health. Point-of-Care (POC) testing for infectious diseases and other Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived tests are useful tools that may guide the clinical decision-making process. When used appropriately, these tests can result in significant health care cost savings and improved health outcomes. We identify this as an opportunity to further incorporate POC tests into the pharmacy curriculum and present considerations that may be useful to schools and colleges of pharmacy in developing such coursework. Key areas highlighted include the role of CLIA-waived POC tests in pharmacy practice, curricular considerations, training, and legal/privacy concerns.