Point-of-Care Biomarkers in Pediatric Emergency Medicine: Advancing Rapid Diagnostics, Overcoming Limitations, and Shaping Future Innovations

Abstract Background The advent of point-of-care (POC) biomarkers are reshaping pediatric emergency medicine by facilitating rapid and accurate bedside diagnostic insights that expedite clinical decision-making. They enable real-time risk stratification and treatment initiation for life-threatening conditions, including sepsis, trauma, and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Emerging POC biomarkers, such as procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for sepsis, lactate for shock, troponin for cardiac injury, bicarbonate for metabolic disturbances, S100B and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and others are progressively becoming a core component of pediatric emergency care to enhance patient outcomes. However, limitations exist, including biomarker variability, age-dependent variations, regulatory restrictions, and accessibility issues. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databeses like PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search focused on studies addressing the clinical utility, constraints, and future advancements of POC biomarkers in pediatric emergency medicine. Results This review presents a comprehensive analysis of emerging POC biomarkers in pediatric emergency medicine, addressing their clinical applications, limitations, and future innovations. Biosensors and artificial intelligence (AI) incorporation aim to enhance biomarker accuracy. However, disparities in resource avaliability and accessibility remain a concern, particularly in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Conclusion POC biomarkers are revolutionizing pediatric emergency medicine by enabling rapid and more precise bedside diagnostics. Limitations such as biomarker variability, age-related factors, regulatory barriers, and accessibility issues exist; however, ongoing technological advancements and interdisciplinary research efforts are set to refine biomarker utilization in emergency care, ensuring more precise, efficient, and accessible diagnostics in pediatric populations.