While fast medical tests have been accessible for some time, new technological advancements have made it more viable and cost-effective to provide these solutions at the bedside of patients.
Point of Care (POC) technology such as the PXP solutions comes in various shapes and sizes, and it has a wide range of applications. Diagnostics transitioning from centralized or clinic-based labs to POC can only be supported if the created POC solution is compact, simple to use, and minimizes the total cost burden.
Requirements of Point of Care Diagnostic Devices
In the development of a point-of-care device, numerous considerations must be addressed. It is critical that the testing be quick, user-friendly, easily understandable, accurate, and precise. Another factor to consider while developing point-of-care diagnostic equipment is their size.
They must be portable, with the best-case scenario being pocket small. Furthermore, such gadgets must be cheap. However, the market price level varies based on the patient’s socioeconomic circumstances.
Benefits of POC
POC technology is projected to provide several advantages over older methods, including:
Technology for Imaging: From screening to diagnosis to treatment cycles and follow-ups, imaging plays a critical role in the cancer care continuum. Imaging infrastructure solutions are quite suitable for generating quick results due to their very nature.
Portable imaging solutions for in vitro and in vivo are being researched and developed. Miniaturization and cost reduction of imaging devices are aided by cutting-edge techniques like optical Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS), optical fibers, and so on.
Liquid Biopsy: To assess the state of the ever-changing tumor, several re-biopsies are required in the current therapy program. This leads to higher associated expenditure expenses, such as hospitalization, surgery, and other medical procedures, and so remains a major challenge for both the patient and the caregiver.
With the advancement of liquid biopsy technology, the screening method is predicted to change drastically, becoming minimally invasive and requiring only a single drop of samples, such as blood, saliva, or urine. For cancer detection, this method employs circulating tumor cell indicators.
Multiplex POC Detection: Advances in microfluidic devices have paved the framework for the growth of cost-effective lab-on-a-chip solutions that can detect multiple analytes/biomarkers from a single sample. Due to the reduced use of chemicals and labor, these tiny solutions are both quick and cost-effective.
Implantable Biosensors: Implantable biosensors are predicted to serve a critical role in vital sign surveillance for cancer detection and recovery. For example, monitoring the effect of chemotherapy requires measuring body temperature, and in this case, a sensor can provide real-time information. By calculating the fluid pressure/acid-base balance, implantable biosensors have the potential to monitor the efficacy of cancer treatment.
Final Thoughts
Ongoing and prospective improvements in testing tools for RBC-related disorders and unusual anemia are likely to be characterized by the terms “point of care,” “artificial intelligence,” and “personalized theranostics.”
Genetic analysis is well established from a conceptual standpoint, and the shrinking dimension of equipment and substantial cost reductions will improve the dissemination and frequent use of this diagnostic technique. A complete genome analysis will be used instead of a targeted study of a defined protein (or group).
However, in addition to gene characterization, functional analysis (which is increasingly dependent on individual cells) will become increasingly significant.