For high-risk patients or those with diseases that require constant blood monitoring, going to the doctor for blood tests may soon be a thing of the past. Athelas, a company based in Mountain View, California, announced the launch of a new blood test that has been clinically validated and can be used in the patient’s own home. The company claims that their tall cylindrical device that performs the test, resembling an Amazon Echo, can accurately visualize almost all types of blood cells within 60 seconds.
Patients perform a finger prick and place a drop of blood onto a test strip, a process similar to the classic blood sugar testing for diabetes. They then insert the test strip into the device which uses computer imaging to return lab-grade complete blood count test results (CBC). The information is sent to an Android or iOS app and, if needed, to the patient’s doctor. This allows doctors and patients to easily obtain daily updates that allow them to monitor treatment or disease progress.
Currently, Athelas is collaborating with oncologists and loaning this device to cancer patients to monitor chemotherapy progress. However, the company is optimistic about the wider need for such a device – for example, inflammatory markers can sometimes precede full infection by several days. Athelas is also in talks with hospitals and drug companies, as many players in the healthcare industry would benefit from accurate, rapid, and cheaper blood testing.
Watch the device in action:
Link: Athelas homepage…
(Hat tip: TechCrunch)
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