Wednesday, May 29, 2024

by Galit Gelman, Commercial Marketing Manager, SEKISUI Diagnostics 

Point-of-care diagnostics, particularly in molecular testing, face challenges related to accessibility and affordability. The complexity of molecular testing techniques requires specialized training for laboratory personnel, contributing to variations in test quality. Infrastructure requirements for well-equipped laboratories may hinder accessibility, especially in resource-limited settings. Delays in obtaining results can impact timely patient care, particularly during urgent situations or pandemics.¹ The increasing demand for flexible, efficient, and accurate testing solutions in various healthcare settings arises from several factors. A study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) journal emphasizes the importance of designing remote technologies to flexibly organize hybrid care services, enabling healthcare services to be provided in non-traditional healthcare settings.²

In situations like pandemics, where swift and accurate diagnostics are crucial, there is a heightened demand for efficient testing methods that can provide rapid results. Additionally, the growing economic burden associated of healthcare underscores the importance of testing methods that are both accurate and financially viable. Overall, the changing healthcare landscape, combined with the need for timely, cost-effective, and patient-friendly diagnostic solutions, has fueled the rising demand for flexible, efficient, and accurate testing across a spectrum of healthcare settings.

The Metrix® platform serves as an ideal introductory molecular product for facilities yet to adopt molecular technology. Its ease of use and compact design make it suitable for a wide range of settings. The combination of affordability and the lack of contractual requirements simplifies the acquisition process, making it straightforward and hassle-free. Metrix’s cost-effectiveness is particularly advantageous for remote or mobile clinics, offering confirmatory testing capabilities at a price point similar to antigen testing. This feature is crucial for underserved populations who might otherwise forego serial COVID-19 testing or miss work due to presumptive results. 

“Metrix’s cost-effectiveness is particularly advantageous for remote or mobile clinics, offering confirmatory testing capabilities at a price point similar to antigen testing.” 

With its dimensions comparable to a deck of cards and powered by a standard USB-C charger, Metrix’s compatibility, and portability, alongside its affordability, extend molecular testing’s reach to facilities previously unable to incorporate it. This integration of Metrix significantly enhances access to essential diagnostics, reinforcing the platform’s role in modernizing healthcare delivery.

Compact and efficient diagnostic solutions, like Metrix, stand at the forefront of a healthcare revolution, offering the potential to significantly transform how care is delivered. These innovations can democratize healthcare, bringing advanced diagnostic capabilities within reach of a wider audience. Such a shift is poised to empower healthcare providers, enabling them to take proactive control over their patients’ health through early detection and timely intervention.

Metrix was specifically designed to optimize efficiency, allowing healthcare professionals to enhance patient care without the need to extensively manage their diagnostic tools. To perform a Metrix test, the provider must collect either a saliva or nasal sample, assemble all the test components, shake the test cartridge for 20 seconds, insert the sensor into the reader, and then wait for up to 30 minutes. Unlike many molecular tests, Metrix eliminates the necessity to pipette the sample into a well or cartridge, streamlining the testing process and making it straightforward to learn and implement.

For patients that do not need confirmatory testing, the Metrix dual sample type option may provide more comfort and flexibility. In instances where a patient may be uncomfortable with a nasal swab, there is an option to provide a saliva sample. When using Metrix for a nasal swab sample test, the result can be considered confirmatory. This means if a patient tests negative for COVID-19, they are not required to undergo serial testing or take an additional test to confirm the negative outcome. Unlike antigen tests and many molecular tests, which are not considered confirmatory and necessitate retesting if symptoms persist, Metrix provides a definitive outcome. Although confirmatory tests are not mandatory in some states^3,4, they are important, especially for patients with comorbidities that could complicate COVID-19 treatment if not promptly identified. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or autoimmune disorders, which are associated with more severe COVID-19 implications.⁵ 

“For patients that do not need confirmatory testing, the Metrix dual sample type option may provide more comfort and flexibility.”

Screening asymptomatic patients, particularly those in nursing homes⁶, with comorbidities, or those recently exposed to COVID-19, is crucial. Identifying COVID-19 in asymptomatic patients allows for immediate quarantine to halt the virus’s spread and ensures that, should symptoms develop, medical intervention can commence early, mitigating the disease’s progression.

The convenience offered by these fast and compact diagnostic tools can greatly reduce long wait times, alleviating the strain on traditional healthcare systems. In critical situations, such as the ongoing pandemic, the importance of accurate and swift diagnostics cannot be overstated, with the potential to markedly enhance healthcare efficiency. Moreover, the affordability of these solutions addresses the economic barriers that often hinder access to quality healthcare. By providing cost-effective yet high-quality diagnostics, technologies like Metrix could significantly advance healthcare equity, particularly benefiting underserved communities facing financial limitations. The portability and scalability of such diagnostic tools extend their utility beyond conventional settings, making them invaluable in a variety of environments—from professional healthcare facilities to home use. This adaptability ensures that even those remote or rural areas, typically limited by healthcare infrastructure, can access essential diagnostic services.

Looking ahead, the widespread adoption of compact and efficient diagnostic solutions may foster a paradigm shift towards personalized and preventive medicine. Timely and accessible diagnostics could enable healthcare providers to tailor treatments based on individual profiles, emphasizing a more proactive and personalized approach to patient care⁷. This evolution towards patient-centric healthcare promises not only to enhance the quality of care but also to fundamentally change the healthcare landscape. In essence, the innovation represented by tools like Metrix is not just a step forward in medical technology—it’s a leap towards a future where healthcare is more accessible, efficient, and tailored to individual needs. 

To learn more about the Metrix molecular platform and the mission of providing molecular diagnostics anywhere and everywhere, please visit MetrixMolecular.com.

 References:

1. Olanipekun T. The impact of COVID-19 testing on length of hospital stay and patient flow in hospitals. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2021;11(2):180-183. Published 2021 Mar 23. doi:10.1080/20009666.2020.1866249 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33889316/
2. Pilosof NP, Barrett M, Oborn E, Barkai G, Zimlichman E, Segal G. Designing for flexibility in hybrid care services: lessons learned from a pilot in an internal medicine unit. Front Med Technol. 2023;5:1223002. Published 2023 Nov 20. doi:10.3389/fmedt.2023.1223002 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38053662/
3. August 20, 2021, Update. Indiana Department of Health. Published online 2021. Accessed 2024. https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/COVID-19-Confirmatory-Testing-After-Antigen-Test.pdf
4. Considerations for Confirmatory Testing of COVID-19 Point-of-Care Tests. State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Published online 2021. Accessed 2024. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dph/memos/communicable-diseases/2021-10-bcd.pdf
5. Xu, G., Yang, Y., Du, Y. et al. Clinical Pathway for Early Diagnosis of COVID-19: Updates from Experience to Evidence-Based Practice. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 59, 89–100 (2020). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12016-020-08792-8
6. McGarry BE, Gandhi AD, Barnett ML. Covid-19 Surveillance Testing and Resident Outcomes in Nursing Homes. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(12):1101-1110. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2210063 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36947467/
7. Balogh EP, Miller BT, Ball JR, et al. Committee on Diagnostic Error in Health Care; Board on Health Care Services. Institute of Medicine; The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care. (2015) Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK338593/