Innovation is afoot in the field of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), driving a transformative shift in healthcare and propelled by advances in medtech. These innovations are revolutionising how diseases are detected, monitored and managed, leading to earlier diagnosis, personalised treatments and improved patient outcomes. Key topics include digital and AI integration, point-of-care (POC) testing and novel biomarkers, all of which are improving the precision and accessibility of medical care.

Attendees and speakers at AdvaMed’s MedTech Conference in Toronto, held from 15 October to 17 October 2024, stressed the importance of using data to inform research and development, and to improve the efficiency of medical devices. For example, Jennifer Schneiders PhD, president of diagnostic solutions at Hologic, mentioned that the decreasing number of cytologists in cytotechnology is an important factor in driving Hologic to create an innovative AI platform to identify abnormal cells and lesions in pap smears, called the Genius Digital Diagnostics System. Dr Schneiders emphasised the intricate relationship between customers and health care professionals (HCPs) and regulations. This multifaceted approach is intended to serve patients better while maximising HCPs’ time savings and expertise, all while meeting existing regulations. 

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AI can free up clinicians’ time

Other speakers highlighted that AI can be used in mundane ways such as to reduce clinicians’ work on documentation, which in turn frees up their time to treat more patients, and spoke about improving the medical access ecosystem with medtech to reduce fragmentation of healthcare access.

Other topics discussed included the importance of decentralised testing in improving patient access to care, detecting diseases earlier and monitoring patients. These POC tests include over-the-counter tests, direct-to-consumer tests and bedside tests, typically performed by non-HCPs. The speakers at the seminars titled “Continued Growth of Decentralized Testing: Fact or Fiction?” and “Exploring the Frontiers of IVD Innovation” stressed the ongoing issue of healthcare “deserts” and how expanding alternative care outside doctors’ offices is crucial to reach at-risk populations.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare demand has shifted to patients wanting full awareness of their healthcare status, and telemedicine. Medical device manufacturers are taking advantage of this forward momentum and releasing diagnostic testing to be available at patients’ fingertips.

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Big-ticket areas include women’s health, neurology, sepsis and cancer screening

“Continued Growth of Decentralized Testing: Fact or Fiction?” focused on how testing needs to go beyond respiratory testing to gain traction. Testing in chronic disease monitoring, cardio health and sexual health were mentioned. One barrier for some POC tests is reimbursement: access to care is improved if patients can purchase an STI [sexually transmitted infection] test at a local pharmacy, for example, but the lack of reimbursement in this space adds another layer of inaccessibility to the landscape. The overall goal of increased decentralised testing is to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare systems so more individuals overall can be aware of their health status.

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Lastly, leaders in the IVD space speaking at the seminars, including manufacturers, heads of laboratories and investors, emphasised key future growth markets. The big-ticket areas were women’s health, neurology, autoimmunity, minimal residual disease (cancer), sepsis and cancer screening (particularly in liquid biopsy). Speakers and attendees emphasised the importance of clinical utility when developing IVDs, focusing on whether test results are actionable, if appropriate actions are taken and whether these actions lead to improved patient outcomes.

Innovations in IVD are revolutionising disease detection, monitoring and management, enabling earlier diagnoses, personalised treatments and improved patient outcomes. Key developments and investments into digital and AI integration, POC testing and novel biomarkers are significantly improving the precision and accessibility of medical care, shaping the future of healthcare.