Advantages	Disadvantages
Immediate initiation of specific antibiotic therapy is possible. Reduction in unnecessary antibiotic consumption Reduction in selection pressure Immediate recognition of infection chains Reduction in pre-analytical interference Extension of diagnostic instrumentarium; independent of culture Better compliance with patients who are difficult to reach	Older POCT systems perform more poorly (before the introduction of immunochromatographic techniques) Lack of data on pathogen sensitivity Increased risk of operator becoming infected Operator’s qualifications may be inadequate. Double or multiple infections are more likely to be overlooked than in culture. Necessity of performing measures for quality control