Objectives: The rise and fall of the health technology startup Theranos is emblematic of the promise and peril of point-of-care testing (POCT). Instruments that deliver immediate results from minimally invasive samples at the location of collection can provide powerful tools to deliver health data in clinical and public health contexts. Yet, POCT availability is driven largely by market interests, which limits the development of inexpensive tests for diverse health conditions that can be used in resource-limited settings. These constraints, combined with complex regulatory hurdles and substantial ethical challenges, have contributed to the underutilization of POCT in human biology research. Methods: We evaluate current POCT capabilities and limitations, discuss promising applications for POCT devices in resource-limited settings, and discuss the future of POCT. Results: As evidenced by publication trends, POCT platforms have rapidly advanced in recent years, gaining traction among clinicians and health researchers. We highlight POCT devices of potential interest to populationbased researchers and present specific examples of POCT applications in human biology research. Conclusions: Several barriers can limit POCT applications, including cost, lack of regulatory approval for non-clinical use, requirements for expensive equipment, and the dearth of validation in remote field conditions. Despite these issues, we see immense potential for emerging POCT technology capable of analyzing new sample types and used in conjunction with increasingly common technology (e.g., smart phones). We argue that the fallout from Theranos may ultimately provide an opportunity to advance POCT, leading to more ethical data collection and novel opportunities in human biology research. | INTRODUCTION: POINT OF CARE TESTING IN THE AFTERMATH OF THERANOSElizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of the health technology startup Theranos, became a billionaire and media darling after convincing influential investors that her company had developed revolutionary healthcare devices. These portable, point-of-care testing (POCT) devices could allegedly run hundreds of medical tests using only a few drops of capillary blood, eliminating the need for needles and expensive clinical laboratory