C1 Rapid diagnostic testing by pharmacists: Expand your horizon

Wednesday 31 August 2016
09:00-12:00
Hilton Buenos Aires : Pacara A & B, 3 hours

Organised by the FIP Programme Committee 

 

Introduction 

In most countries, pharmacists represent the first point of contact for patients with the health care system. To maximise the benefit of these interactions, pharmacists may seek permission to perform rapid diagnostic testing for pathogens causing acute illness such as influenza or streptococcal pharyngitis. Furthermore, pharmacists are able to screen asymptomatic patients with disease risk factors for HIV and hepatitis C. Patients with reactive test results have an opportunity to initiate required therapy in a timely manner or being referred to appropriate providers for more detailed disease verification. To reduce the global burden of disease effectively, pharmacists must embrace their important role as first-line health care professionals in identifying patients who can benefit from rapid and accurate pharmaceutical care. Successful accomplishment of this objective is predicted to reduce improper use of antibiotics and will lead to substantial savings in health care cost. 

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this knowledge-based session, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the value of rapid diagnostic testing in influencing patient outcomes
  2. Identify educational requirements for pharmacists to participate in disease diagnosis effectively
  3. Describe limitations of rapid diagnostic testing performed by pharmacists
  4. Identify opportunities for incorporating rapid diagnostic testing in practice.

Chair

Michael Hegener (The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, USA) 

Programme

09:00

1)      The value of in-pharmacy HIV testing

Juan Hoyos (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health/CIBERESP, Spain)

09:40

2)      e-Learning for the expansion and improved use of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests in the private sector in Africa

Elizabeth Streat (Malaria Consortium, UK)

10:20 – 10:40 Coffee/tea break

10:40

3)      Antimicrobial stewardship in community pharmacies: a strep case study

Allison Dering-Anderson (Nebraska Medical Center, USA)

11:20

4)      How to differentiate your community pharmacy using point-of care diagnostics: an Australian case study

Michael Flannery (Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Australia)