Innovative Healthcare Systems (IHS) is a pakistani medical company which has collaborated with a Finnish company and procured digital test kits after finalizing with local, federal and hospital authorities.
“The iSTOC IDA mobile diagnostics platform from the Finnish company can detect antibodies and provide a digital analysis. It integrates diagnostics, mobile technology and cloud computing into one platform.
It basically turns your smartphone into a virtual lab where the results are displayed, offering faster, easier, and precise diagnostics, enabling quick action and treatment,” Umair Azam, founder and CEO of IHS, told media. “The biggest advantage is that it creates a digitised diagnostic data with geographical mapping that can help monitor and control outbreaks.”
The tests can help government achieve two results in one go: enhance rapid testing and enable digital diagnostic data. Pakistan has conducted around 42,000 tests so far as the total number of confirmed cases rise to 4,072 (as of April 8).
How Does it Work?
The test kit works in the same way blood sugar is tested by using a pinprick on patients’ thumbs. The results can be obtained within minutes.
“The rapid test kits, with 95 per cent accuracy, can help save time and reduce direct contact as one counter set up at a village, town or city can test hundreds. Instead of inviting patients to hospitals, we are taking the tests to the masses.”
After the test is conducted, the data is automatically sent to the IDA (immediate diagnostics and analytics) secure cloud and is available for the health care professionals. The experts then accordingly guide the person on the ground. “It it’s negative, no action is required. If it’s positive, guide them to the treatment services. If there’s some error, we test again,” he said.
How the Test is Done in Three Steps?
1. Take a test Nurse or doctor performs the diagnostic test.
2. Read the test Scanned in a mobile phone using IDA application.
3. Store result IDA Secure Cloud checks the result immediately for diagnosis.
Can the New Test Kits Prove to be a Game-Changer?
1. It enables faster, convenient, precise and cost-effective diagnostics combining mobile technology and cloud computing.
2. As compared to PCR tests, the digital test reduces both human error and technology gaps. It saves time and cost as the results are recorded digitally and uploaded to the cloud platform instead of manual reports and visit to labs.
3. Reduce direct contact and virus exposure, as patients do not need to go to hospitals or clinics.
4. Test results obtained in minutes whereas the PCR tests results may take 24 to 48 hours.
5. It can help generate and divide data by age, gender and locations, publishing visual reports and producing heat maps of infections.
