BIOTECH & LIFE SCIENCES
Point-of-care diagnostics
An overview
Rory O’Keefe from Europlaz provides insight into global trends and innovations in this fast-moving market
A
s a specialist in medical device manufacturing, Europlaz is often at the front end of the latest
product developments to hit the UK and global diagnostics marketplace. Commercial director at the company, Rory O’Keefe, believes the following changes in the point-of-care sector are destined to transform future clinical pathways. Research recently published
by Nova One Advisor indicates that the global point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics market reached US$44.25bn in 2023. In ten years it is expected to virtually double to US$80.75bn[1]
PoC tests are invaluable. We are now seeing the development of digital PoC devices which can provide contextual information on results to patients. This information can then be shared with healthcare professionals for further analysis, without them being physically present,” notes Rory. This reduces the burden on healthcare systems, while simultaneously speeding up the time it takes to get a result and treat conditions appropriately.
. Much of this growth is
being driven by rapid technological advances in non-invasive products, self-testing and digitally connected devices, coupled with an aging global population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases.
ESTABLISHED PRACTICES There are some very established
practices in this fi eld. For example, PoC tests being done at bedsides, in wards, in community settings or at home. These are often done via portable devices that provide timely clinical decisions. “PoC is far from new. Pregnancy
and glucose over-the-counter self-tests have been around for decades. However, the pandemic demonstrated just how convenient PoC tests were for rapid results and population-scale testing. “For remote communities where medical infrastructures are limited,
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PATIENT-CENTRIC TECHNOLOGIES This transition from acute intervention to diagnostic technologies centered on wellness and prevention is being replicated across the world. The three technologies that
clinicians anticipate will most improve the eff iciency and eff ectiveness of diagnostics in the next three to fi ve years are Telehealth (83%), AI (75%) and Biosensors (74 %), according to one Deloitte survey.[2]
Two-thirds of
clinicians believe that these disruptive technologies will mean diagnostics will look ‘a great deal’ or ‘totally’ diff erent in 6-10 years’ time.
DIGITAL DEVELOPMENTS Previous deterrents to PoC diagnostics, for instance expensive hardware, are no longer such big barriers to market access. One company revolutionising
the way people access diagnosis and treatment for major diseases, according to O’Keefe is Cambridge- based digital diagnostics platform
PocDoc. The company off ers an app- based technology platform combining proprietary microfl uidic assay tests, powered by its cloud-based applied AI diagnostics (HUESnap). PocDoc’s Healthy Heart Check
has been rolled out across the UK from Edinburgh down to Cornwall via pharmacies, the NHS and other healthcare providers. Healthy Heart Check screenings have also been run in underserved UK healthcare communities and at high footfall locations, including football stadiums. PocDoc’s technology provides
quantitative, multi-marker, clinical grade diagnostics using a bio-sensing approach that can be conducted across multiple settings, including at home. The company holds multiple patents, with a number pending. PocDoc’s product development
director Lucia Curson says “compared with conventional lateral fl ow tests, the PocDoc technology stack represents a huge leap forward in the fi eld. It combines microfl uidics, biochemistry, engineering, applied AI and integration with the healthcare system’s digital infrastructure, all through the same product experience.”
[1]
https://www.novaoneadvisor.com/
report/point-of-care-diagnostics-market [2]
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/
pages/life-sciences-and-healthcare/ articles/
future-of-diagnostics.html
For more information visit:
https://europlaz.co.uk
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