GASTROENTEROLOGY


offered to those unable to participate digitally. These patients were provided with traditional laboratory test kits and included as a control group to ensure their data could still inform the broader evaluation. Where possible, patients were encouraged to complete the test using a family member’s device, demonstrating the value of flexibility in supporting adoption. The UHS team also developed a range of resources – including printed step-by-step instructions, in-app guidance and short video tutorials – to support all users, regardless of their digital confidence.


In addition, the pilot study revealed


how different patient groups engage with new technology. Younger, more digitally adept patients were typically quick to adopt the app-based testing process and reported greater confidence in managing their care independently. Others – particularly those who had been living with IBD for many years – often preferred the familiarity and perceived reliability of the traditional laboratory testing model. For these individuals, change can be more challenging, and maintaining the option of conventional testing remains essential. Ultimately, ensuring that no patient is excluded has been central to the design of this service. While digital tools have the potential to transform chronic disease care, they must do so in a way that enhances patient choice. By offering alternatives, listening to feedback and continuously adapting the service, the team at UHS is helping to create a model that is not only innovative, but also inclusive and sustainable.


Unlocking potential The UHS pilot study has laid the foundation for a scalable model that could help modernise IBD care across the NHS. Its success is rooted in a combination of several key factors: a strong digital infrastructure (including MyMR), close collaboration between clinical and IT teams, and the flexibility of test kit suppliers to support integration with existing systems. A major enabler was the use of open APIs – tools that allow different software systems to ‘talk’ to each other. This meant that test results from the SmarTest testing app could be sent directly into the hospital’s electronic records and MyMR, without needing extra steps or separate platforms, making point-of-care calprotectin testing of equal value to the laboratory test. By linking everything together smoothly, the team created a system that is easy to expand and adapt in other NHS setings. For instance, other specialties – including rheumatology, dermatology and oncology – face similar challenges in monitoring


With direct access to their results and


a better grasp of what those results mean for their condition, patients are becoming more confident in recognising flare patterns and responding appropriately


patients on long-term therapies and could benefit from applying the same infrastructure to support remote blood testing, symptom tracking or other biomarker monitoring. However, realising this potential at


scale will require overcoming several practical and financial challenges. While the UHS pilot was made possible by digital transformation funding, a sustainable rollout depends on continued investment in both technology and logistics. This includes ensuring the supply of home- testing kits, maintaining secure data systems and expanding technical support. Logistical improvements are also essential: while test kits are currently sent to patients by post on a case-by- case basis, a more proactive approach would involve supplying kits in advance, allowing patients to test at the first sign of symptoms and supporting real-time, patient-initiated IBD flare management. This approach would enable even faster interventions, reduce the administrative burden and enhance the model’s responsiveness.


As the NHS and other health


systems continue moving towards more decentralised, patient-centred models of care, the UHS initiative offers a clear and practical example of what that future could look like. By integrating home diagnostics into routine clinical workflows and placing more control in the hands of patients, the model represents a shift toward smarter, more sustainable chronic disease management. It demonstrates how combining clinical oversight with patient-led monitoring and seamless digital integration can streamline services, reduce pressure on outpatient clinics and deliver faster, more personalised care. Above all, it highlights the potential of technology to support long-term health not just within the walls of a hospital, but wherever patients are, bringing care closer to home and making it more responsive, equitable and truly patient centred.


PPi


Acknowledgements Special thanks to consultant gastroenterologist Dr Markus


Gwiggner, IBD specialist nurse Claudia Silva Moniz, IBD digital healthcare assistant Evangeline Ganeshamoorthy, product manager Natalie Steel and system developer Nour Alharakeh for generously sharing their experience and expertise in developing and implementing the at-home calprotectin testing service at UHS. Their dedication to improving IBD care has helped shape an effective model with the potential for broader transformation.


References 1 Crohn’s and Colitis UK. All about Crohn’s


and Colitis, Edn 8a. (Crohn’s and Colitis UK, 2024) htps://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/ media/jppjhz3h/all-about-crohns-and- colitis-ed-8a-2024_final.pdf


2 IBD UK. Crohn’s and Colitis Care in the UK The Hidden Cost and a Vision for Change. Accessed (IBD UK, 2021) htps://s3.eu- west-2.amazonaws.com/sr-crohns-craft/ documents/CROJ8096-IBD-National- Report-WEB-210427-2.pdf


3 Cholapranee A, Hazlewood GS, Kaplan GG, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Ananthakrishnan AN. Systematic review with meta-analysis: comparative efficacy of biologics for induction and maintenance of mucosal healing in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis controlled trials. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2017;45(10):1291-1302. doi:10.1111/ apt.14030


4 Bjarnason I. The Use of Fecal Calprotectin in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2017;13(1):53-56.


5 Gwiggner M, Ganeshamoorthy E, Gus M, et al. P323 Calprotectin home testing with digital integration into the electronic health record (EHR) in an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) support service. Gut 2025;74:A288. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2025- BSG.456.


Graham Johnson is Managing Director of BIOHIT HealthCare, a UK based company that specialises in the development, manufacture and marketing of diagnostic tests for digestive diseases.


www.biohithealthcare.co.uk February 2026 WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM 39


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56