by The world’s first smartphone test for type -2 diabetes could shorten the diagnosis time of weeks or months to less than 10 minutes, according to experts.
NHS Trusts in Cumbria and northeast of England are the first to give patients access to the diabetes Health Check App, with a nationwide rollout planned for later this year.
The creators of the diagnostic company POCDOC app also added that the test could save the NHS billion.
In the UK, about 5.2 million people have type -2 diabetes, and another 1.3 million are not diagnosed.
The new test, which combines the finger-prick test “Gold Standard” with a smartphone app, is intended to revolutionize preventive treatment for the disease that costs the NHS £ 8.8 billion per year.
NHS Trusts in Cumbria and northeast of England are the first to give patients access to the Diabetes Health Check App (PA)
“The screening on type -2 -diabetes risk, including blood biomarkers via a smartphone app, has never been done before,” said Steve Roest, CEO from POCDOC. “This approach not only improves access to the patient. It facilitates pressure on frontline services and supports a more sustainable, digitally enabled NHS.”
The new service uses the HBA1c biomarker, which measures the average blood sugar level in the past two to three months.
For the test, patients place a blood sample for finger-prick bleeding on the patented POCDOC tester, which carries out a process known as a microfluidi assay. Then the patient scans the test with the POCDOC app and receives its result almost immediately, in contrast to the current process that can take weeks or months.
Mr. Roest said that the app enables earlier detection and prevention and leads the exam and diagnosis to a community or home that matches the goals of the 10-year plan of the health secretary Wes Streeting for the NHS.
A pilot from Diabetes Health Check is underway and will be introduced later this year throughout the UK, added Roest.
Professor Julia Newton from Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria said: “Type -2 -Diabetes affects thousands of people across Great Britain. However, this is an illness that can be easily prevented and undressed by early detection, nutritional and lifestyle changes.
“Digital test services such as POCDOC’s facilitate thousands of people to determine their risk of this disease on a button. We are pleased to be the first to control this revolutionary product in Great Britain that has the potential to save thousands of human life.”
