DOI: 10.56367/oag-052-12824 ISSN: 2516-3817
Bringing infectious disease diagnostics closer to patients
Jeroen Lammertyn, Dragana Spasic, Karen LeirsBringing infectious disease diagnostics closer to patients
Point-of-care diagnostics could transform the detection and management of infectious diseases. Two European projects, FORTIFIEDx and DECIPHER, are developing rapid, integrated tests to bring lab-quality diagnosis closer to patients. When someone is suspected of having an infectious disease, time matters. A diagnosis can determine whether a patient receives treatment, an infection is contained, and/or others are protected from exposure. Yet, many diagnostic tests still depend on a central laboratory. A sample must be collected, transported, processed and analysed using specialised equipment and trained personnel. For patients in remote or resource-limited settings, this can create significant delays.