The Pre-POCT-Non-Conveyance Trial: Prehospital Point-of-Care Testing to Support Non-Conveyance De… (NCT07503470) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
The Pre-POCT-Non-Conveyance Trial: Prehospital Point-of-Care Testing to Support Non-Conveyance Decisions
Denmark1,500 participantsStarted 2026-05-26
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether rapid blood tests performed in the ambulance can be implemented in routine prehospital assessment of adults who are initially considered for transport to hospital. Ambulance clinicians frequently assess adults who are transported to hospital but discharged shortly after arrival without requiring advanced diagnostic testing or treatment.
In this study, researchers will examine whether adding rapid point-of-care blood testing (POCT) at the scene supports ambulance clinicians and Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre (EMDC) physicians in making more informed decisions about hospital conveyance. POCT provides rapid measurements of biomarkers including infection markers, electrolytes, kidney function, blood counts, and total carbon dioxide, a proxy measure related to acid-base status.
Ten ambulance clusters will participate in a matched, cluster-randomized design. Half will provide standard care, and half will have access to POCT following consultation with an EMDC physician in patients who would otherwise be considered for hospital transport.
The main question is whether prehospital POCT can be performed, documented, and made available before the final conveyance decision in routine ambulance-based assessment. The study will also examine whether access to POCT is associated with a higher proportion of patients remaining at home rather than being transported to hospital.
Safety outcomes will include hospital admission within 24 hours among non-conveyed patients, short-stay hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 30-day mortality.
This study will evaluate the implementation of POCT-supported decision-making in prehospital care and explore whether it may increase non-conveyance without compromising patient safety.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged ≥18 years
* Emergency call or general practitioner-commissioned ambulance dispatch following telephone triage only, including video streaming triage, resulting in ambulance dispatch
* Initial on-scene assessments performed by the ambulance crew
* Patients initially considered for hospital conveyance based on clinical assessment
* Following telemedical consultation with an Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre (EMDC) physician, deemed eligible for point-of-care blood testing (POCT)
* Hemodynamically and clinically stable according to predefined operational stability criteria (including Glasgow Coma Scale, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate), with final eligibility determined by the EMDC physician based on overall clinical assessment and the patient's baseline status
Exclusion Criteria:
* Non-emergency calls (e.g., interfacility transport or scheduled patient transport)
* General practitioner-commissioned ambulance dispatches where the patient has been physically assessed by a general practitioner or another physician before ambulance arrival
* Immediate need for emergency transport to hospital as determined by clinical assessment
* Persistent unstable vital signs outside predefined operational thresholds, except for known chronic baseline deviations (e.g., reduced oxygen saturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic tachyarrhythmia in atrial fibrillation)
* Inability to obtain venous or capillary bl…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Implementation of prehospital POCT
Timeframe: Day 1 (at completion of on-scene assessment)