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Point-of-Care Testing for Pharmacy Technicians

Content Release Date: 7/1/2021
Expiration Date: 7/1/2024
Activity Type: Knowledge-based
CE Credits: 3.75 hours 
Activity Fee:  $59/$89 member/non-member

Activity Overview

This online course helps identify areas needed for in‐depth review by:

  • Reviewing pertinent topics and tools and skills
  • Assessments with exam-style questions and video demonstrations of practical skills
  • Listing valuable resources for further study

These activities are part of the ASHP professional development program.

This course consists of five activities (see table below) with video demonstrations of testing procedures and provides up to 3.75 hours of continuing pharmacy education credit. The review course includes instructional home-study modules with exam-style practice questions.

PTCB accepts the ACPE credit statement as proof of completion towards meeting the candidate eligibility requirements for the Point-of-Care Testing Certificate. All modules must be completed.

Module 1: 
Safety and Precautions

Module 2: 
Diseases and Specimens

Module 3: 
Conditions

Module 4: 
CLIA-Waived Tests

Module 5: 
Test Results, Quality Control, and Recording
CE Credits: 0.50 hours CE Credits: 1.25 hours CE Credits: 1.00 hours CE Credits: 0.50 hours CE Credits: 0.50 hours

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

These activities are intended for pharmacy technicians who are seeking to update their knowledge and skills in point-of-care testing in the areas listed below.

After participating in this CPE activity, learners should be able to:

Safety and Precautions

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-21-416-H04-T

  1. Identify the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in point-of-care (POC) testing.
  2. Describe the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and related safety.
  3. Summarize biohazard waste handling and disposal.
  4. List personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to protect patients and those administering tests.
  5. Discuss the need for and methods to confirm patient identity.

Diseases and Specimens  

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-21-417-H04-T

  1. Define basic anatomical and physiological terms related to tests.
  2. List common specimen types used for POC tests.   
  3. Discuss collecting a focused health history (e.g., acute symptoms, medication allergies, signs of disease).

Conditions 

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-21-418-H04-T

  1. List common specimen types used for point-of-care (POC) tests.
  2. State signs, symptoms, and characteristics of common chronic diseases (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia) where POC testing may be relevant.
  3. State signs, symptoms, and characteristics of common acute infections (e.g., influenza) where POC testing may be relevant.
  4. State signs, symptoms, and characteristics of common chronic infections (e.g., HIV and hepatitis C) where POC testing may be relevant.
  5. Discuss conditions and uses for common POC tests.

CLIA-Waived Tests  

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-21-419-H04-T

  1. Cite Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 as it pertains to point of care (POC) tests.
  2. Summarize CLIA waiver process, CLIA Certificate of Compliance, and CLIA Certificate of Accreditation.
  3. Name devices and technology used in common POC tests.
  4. Describe the need for understanding and following manufacturer instructions for tests.

Test Results, Quality Control (QC), and Recording  

ACPE Number: 0204-0000-21-420-H04-T

  1. Define qualitative and quantitative test results and their characteristics and related concepts (e.g., time since exposure, terms “false positive” and “false negative”).
  2.  List requirements and best practices in recording results.
  3. Discuss identifying invalid or anomalous results.
  4. Describe labeling and documentation requirements for patient samples.
  5. Identify quality control (QC) testing methods (i.e., external, internal) and when they should be used.

Donald G. Klepser, Ph.D., MBA

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
College of Pharmacy
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Donald G. Klepser, Ph.D., MBA, is Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy in Omaha, Nebraska. He has a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics from the University of Iowa, an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Michigan. Dr. Klepser is an internationally recognized expert in the use of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing in community pharmacies. He is a highly sought after speaker and has served as a consultant to pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic test manufacturers, and pharmacies seeking to implement POC testing-driven disease management programs.


Michael E. Klepser, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDP

Professor
College of Pharmacy
Ferris State University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Michael E. Klepser, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDP, is Professor at the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Klepser received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in 1992. He completed a pharmacy practice residency at the Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center in Detroit, Michigan and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Klepser’s research interests include CLIA-waived point-of-care tests, influenza, and health economics. Dr. Klepser has published extensively on these topics and has more than 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts to his credit.

No one in control of the content of this activity has a relevant financial relationship (RFR) with an ineligible company. As defined by the Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education definition of ineligible company.

Activities can be completed in any order. Each activity consists of audio and video, an assessment, and an evaluation. Learners must review all content, pass an assessment (a minimum score of 70% is required), and complete an evaluation to receive continuing education credit for each activity.

Follow the prompts to claim, view, or print the statement of credit within 60 days after completing the activity.

Per ACPE requirements, CPE credit must be claimed within 60 days of being earned – no exceptions! To verify that you have completed the required steps and to ensure your credits have been reported to CPE Monitor, we encourage you to check your NABP eProfile account to validate your credits were transferred successfully before the ACPE 60-day deadline. After the 60 day deadline, ASHP will no longer be able to award credit for this activity.