Diagnostic testing is increasingly moving from centralized laboratories into pharmacies, physicians' offices, hospitals and directly to consumers as part of the transition to value-based care with its focus on providing quality care at a lower cost. Point-of-care testing (POCT) – and what it means for the future of health-care delivery, health-care providers and creators of innovative technologies joining forces to satisfy consumers' growing appetite for convenient and rapid testing – took centerstage at the recent AACC Annual Meeting in San Diego. This feature takes a closer look at the increasing migration of POCT into the retail arena, specifically pharmacies, to support primary-care providers, along with its challenges. It also highlights emerging trends and technologies, including presentations of the "Star Trek-like" innovations from the Qualcomm Tricorder XPrize competition winners that are bound to disrupt the landscape of direct-to-consumer testing. We also provide expert opinions of the pros and cons of bringing POC services closer to consumers.
The move towards point of care testing is accelerating
The digital revolution and technological innovation are the key drivers that are accelerating diagnostic testing's shift away from the centralized laboratories with large high-capital equipment, towards decentralized settings using ever-smaller and increasingly more accurate rapid testing. This – coupled with the push to value-based health care, the relentless rise of health-care costs and, in many cases, limited access to health care – are all driving demand for point-of-care testing (POCT).
Read the full article – start your free trial today!
Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights
Biotech and pharma are increasingly clear about one thing: They need diagnostics. But with prices suppressed, how have diagnostics companies proven their utility without going under?
Now that a federal judge has ruled the US FDA exceeded its authority by unilaterally assuming regulatory oversight of lab-developed tests, what’s the agency’s next move? And does it really have one?
The Cologuard Plus test has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 94% for the detection of colorectal cancer; “unmatched accuracy,” according to Exact Sciences.
Biotech and pharma are increasingly clear about one thing: They need diagnostics. But with prices suppressed, how have diagnostics companies proven their utility without going under?
Freenome plans to file for US FDA approval of its blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer mid-year. If cleared, the test would rival Guardant Health’s Shield, the first FDA-cleared blood test for primary screening of colorectal cancer. Exact Sciences is also in the race to bring a blood-based colorectal screening test to market.
Egg Medical is ramping up efforts to expand international sales of its EggNest scatter radiation protection system to shield X-ray procedure room staff without disrupting workflow. Medtech Insight sat down with Bob Wilson, Egg Medical’s CEO, to discuss the various EggNest systems, marketing opportunities and the competitive landscape.
