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Point of Care

The Point of Care Testing (POCT) Department manages point of care testing equipment across University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB). The team provides maintenance, training, quality assurance and ongoing support for a range of diagnostic devices used within UHB and at partner organisations.

Devices we support

The POCT team manages:

  • blood gas analysers
  • glucose and ketone meters
  • D-dimer analysers
  • urinalysis readers
  • urine pregnancy readers
  • INR monitors
  • haemoglobin analysers
  • HbA1c analysers
  • C-reactive protein (CRP) analysers
  • haemostasis analysers
  • COVID-19, influenza A and influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) analysers

External sites we support

The POCT team also manages devices under contract at:

  • Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
  • The Harborne Hospital
  • Moseley Hospital
  • Washwood Heath Urgent Treatment Centre
  • Solihull Community Services
  • Birmingham Chest Clinic

Breath testing services

The POCT team provides breath testing clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) and Good Hope Hospital. These tests help diagnose certain gastrointestinal conditions.

The team offers:

  • hydrogen breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
  • hydrogen breath testing for lactose intolerance

Opening times

  • Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 17:00

Contact us

Heartlands Hospital

Good Hope Hospital

Solihull Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

 

Quality assurance and accreditation

The Point of Care Testing (POCT) service follows guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the introduction and ongoing use of POCT devices. This helps ensure safe, effective and high-quality testing for patients.

For information about individual tests, visit the test database.

  • [ADD LINK TO TEST DATABASE]

For further information about quality assurance and accreditation please contact our Quality Manager.

Data protection

Pathology Laboratory Services follows the Trust's data protection policies and procedures. These are in place to help the specialty and its staff meet data protection requirements and follow recognised best practice.

Announcement: Training and Development

For information on careers, training and education in Pathology, please see our Training and Development webpage.

Last reviewed: 19 August 2026