Point-of-care INR coagulometers for self-management of oral anticoagulation: primary care diagnostic technology update.

British Journal of General Practice, November 2012 e798 ADVANTAGES OVER EXISTING TECHNOLOGY Devices to measure international normalised ratio (INR) are intended for both professional use and patient self-testing to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy. INR is a standardised measurement of the prothrombin time, which is the time it takes blood to clot after addition of tissue factor. Point-of-care (POC) INR testing within primary care settings eliminates delays in waiting for the result of prothrombin time measurement to be processed by the hospital laboratory, and the subsequent delay in adjustment of anticoagulation dosing. It also avoids the need to attend hospital anticoagulation clinics.