What point of care tests can pharmacy professionals perform?

O. Reg. 45/22 under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, 1990, authorizes pharmacy professionals to perform and collect specimens for the following point of care tests:

• Glucose
• Hemoglobin A1C
• Lipids
• Prothrombin time and International Normalized Ratio (INR)

Pharmacy professionals are authorized to pierce the dermis with a lancet-type device to collect a blood sample for the purposes of performing the above point of care tests. This is authorized by O. Reg. 256/24 under the Pharmacy Act, 1991.

Pharmacy professionals can also perform and collect specimens for COVID-19 point of care tests and immunologic tests for pregnancy. (This is an exemption under O. Reg. 45/22 under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, 1990). Since specimen collection for COVID-19 point of care tests and immunologic tests for pregnancy do not involve controlled acts, enabling regulations under the Pharmacy Act, 1991, are not required.