The missing link in point of care diagnostics

Nick Collier highlights the need for innovation in sample collection, to overcome key human factors challenges, and to ultimately improve point of care diagnostics.

Early diagnosis plays a key role in the management of infectious disease, and access to rapid, straightforward, cost-effective testing is central to this capability. Point of Care (PoC) diagnostic devices are widely held as a key enabler. They are a focal point of innovation and with compound annual growth of 10.7%, the PoC diagnostics market is predicted to reach $75.5 billion by 2027.1

This would seem to bode well for improved management of the world’s most deadly and devastating person-to-person infectious diseases, tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis. The spread of other bacterial, viral, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could also be controlled more effectively with better access to PoC diagnosis. Low- and middle-income countries, where communicable diseases are a leading cause of death and disability,2 could see enormous benefit from this.

However, an important aspect of successful PoC diagnosis is often overlooked during innovation. Namely, the collection of samples. Factors such as discomfort, embarrassment, and inconvenience can make patients reluctant to provide a specimen for testing. Furthermore, it can be difficult to obtain samples of sufficient quality for reliable diagnosis in PoC settings. Improving sample collection for PoC diagnostics could be game-changing for infection prevention. It could also pave the way for further decentralisation, and increased accessibility, of diagnosis at point of need, in community, workplace, or home settings. 

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.

Latest Issues

The AfPP Roadshow - Belfast

ICC Belfast
9th November 2024

NAMDET Annual Conference 24

Venue Cymru, Llandudno , North Wales
13th November 2024

IDSc Annual Conference 2024

Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel
26th - 27th November 2024

IV Forum 2024

Birmingham Conference & Events Centre (BCEC)
Wednesday 4th December 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Leeds

TBA, Leeds
7th December 2024

Decontamination and Sterilisation 2025 Conference and Exhibition

The National Conference Centre, Birmingham
11th February 2025