At-Home Health Testing Demand Is High Post-Pandemic, But So Are Barriers To Development And Use

The US FDA has approved the Teal Wand, the first at-home cervical cancer screening device. Capable of detecting preclinical cancer with 96% accuracy, it will launch in California in June and expand nationwide soon after.

“It’s quite likely [consumer wearable manufacturers] are changing the sensitivity and specificity based on consumer feedback, but not for medical reasons,” said Dipak Kotecha, a University of Birmingham professor of cardiology. Often, self-reported performance evidence from manufacturers is “low quality and biased.”

Peerbridge Health is preparing to submit its next-generation ECG patch, CorMDx, for US FDA clearance this quarter, with plans to launch in the second half of 2025. The rechargeable device is designed for continuous, real-time heart monitoring from the hospital to home, aiming to detect early signs of heart failure and reduce emergency room visits.

Global investment in consumer healthtech increased by 9% year-over-year in 2024, totaling $4.5bn, with significant interest in mental health solutions, according to Galen Growth. While the first quarter of 2025 saw raised confidence and investments, the Trump administration’s new tariffs and sweeping changes to healthcare have introduced new uncertainties.