Point-of-care testing for early detection of sepsis: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Early detection of sepsis is critical for improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality. This includes the development of rapid, portable, and cost-effective point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tools. Recent advances in biosensors, microfluidics, and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platforms, along with improvements in data analytics, have paved the way for novel POC systems. To evaluate research trends and technological progress in this field, we conducted a comprehensive literature search in Web of Science and Scopus databases from inception to September 2024. The strategy ("*Sepsis*" OR "Septic*") AND ("Point-of-care*" OR "POC*") yielded 3,052 records; after applying inclusion criteria for 2000-2024, 365 studies were selected. The review is organized into two sections: (i) classification of sepsis across four analytical dimensions and (ii) diagnostic strategies, including platforms and targeted biomarkers. Among the diagnostic approaches, biosensors accounted for the largest share (43%), followed by chip-based platforms (25%) and molecular diagnostic tools (13%). Trend analysis shows a sharp rise over the last decade, particularly in biosensor-based systems. Nevertheless, gaps persist in clinical validation, real-time detection, and integration with digital health technologies. Future work should focus on fully integrated POC tools with improved accuracy and usability to support timely decision-making in sepsis care.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Biosensors; Point-of-care Diagnostics; Sepsis; Systematic Literature Review (SLR).