Hematology testing in urgent care and resource-poor settings: an overview of point of care and satellite testing.

The combination of requirements for decreased turnaround time for hematology laboratory results and advances in technology have driven testing closer to the point of patient contact. This article provides an overview of the technologies available to measure hemoglobin, white blood cell counts, differentials, and CD4+ T cells at the patient's bedside and in satellite laboratories. Comparison with traditional laboratory testing, regulatory requirements, and operational considerations are also discussed, where appropriate.