History & Objectives
The 1st Asia Pacific Conference on Point of Care Testing for Infectious Diseases (POC 2023) was held 14 - 15 March 2023 at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, Australia. It was a collaboration between the Rapid Point of Care Research Consortium for Infectious Diseases (RAPID) and ASHM Health.
You can view more information about the 2023 conference, including the program here.
Building on the success of the 2023 conference the 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Point of Care Testing for Infectious Diseases (POC 2025) is taking place 19 - 21 June 2025 at the Samyan Mitrtown Hall, Bangkok. It is led by the local POC 2025 convenors Drs Rossaphorn Kittiyawamarn & Nittaya Phanuphak.
This partnership builds on the success of their previous endeavours to enhance access to rapid diagnostic tools, particularly for infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, antimicrobial resistance, and other key infections.
The conference will bring together leading experts, healthcare professionals, and researchers from across the Asia-Pacific region. The conference aims to showcase innovations in point-of-care testing, discuss strategies for implementation, and address challenges related to equitable access and healthcare integration. This collaboration fosters a comprehensive approach to tackling infectious diseases, improving diagnostic capabilities, and enhancing patient care in diverse settings across the region.
The conference will cover:
- Innovative point-of-care testing strategies to enhance early diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment (including rapid tests, molecular tests, and self-testing).
- Enhanced integration of point-of-care testing for multiple infectious diseases (including triple-elimination of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis).
- Enhanced implementation of point-of-care testing (including understanding what works, where, and why)
- Reducing antibiotic overuse and improving antimicrobial resistance stewardship
- Political advocacy, policy change, and supportive health systems
- Strategies for monitoring and evaluating the impact of point-of-care testing on health outcomes
- Multidisciplinary research to optimize development, implementation, and impact of point-of-care tests on health outcomes
- Development of technologies that are innovative and affordable
- Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of scaling-up point-of-care testing, including ensuring adequate resourcing and access to affordable services
- Innovative point-of-care testing strategies to enhance early diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment (including rapid tests, molecular tests, and self-testing).
- Enhanced integration of point-of-care testing for multiple infectious diseases (including triple-elimination of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis).
- Enhanced implementation of point-of-care testing (including understanding what works, where, and why)
- Reducing antibiotic overuse and improving antimicrobial resistance stewardship
- Political advocacy, policy change, and supportive health systems
- Strategies for monitoring and evaluating the impact of point-of-care testing on health outcomes
- Multidisciplinary research to optimize development, implementation, and impact of point-of-care tests on health outcomes
- Development of technologies that are innovative and affordable
- Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of scaling-up point-of-care testing, including ensuring adequate resourcing and access to affordable services
The conference will consider the implementation of point-of-care testing in diverse settings, including but not limited to the community, community-led services, Indigenous-led services, primary care clinics, antenatal care clinics, women’s health clinics, HIV and sexual health clinics, drug treatment clinics, needle/syringe programs, mental health clinics, refugee/migrant health services, mobile health clinics, prisons and tertiary hospital-based care.
Endorsing partners