Which option best describes what a pharmacist or intern can do with point-of-care testing?

• A. May evaluate the test results when advising on drug therapy
• B. Cannot make initial diagnoses
• C. Must obtain prescriber approval before advising
• D. May prescribe medications based solely on test results

Answer: (A)

Point-of-care tests give quick data that pharmacists use to guide medication decisions. The essential skill is interpreting those results in the context of a patient’s therapy plan, so the pharmacist can advise on dosing adjustments, safety monitoring, and effectiveness of the drug regimen. This interpretation helps tailor therapy without performing a diagnosis or starting treatment solely based on the test result. In practice, many adjustments are done in collaboration with a prescriber, but the core ability is evaluating the test outcome to inform drug therapy.