Broader access to rapid tests is changing healthcare

Diagnostics technologies and services have been around for a while now, but the COVID -19 pandemic accelerated a shift in healthcare delivery and the need for evolving patient care. The need of the hour is innovations that empower people to make faster, informed decisions and help healthcare systems better tackle rising health concerns.

For instance, as a response to COVID-19, rapid antigen tests were launched to help people, even those without any symptoms, detect the infection accurately from anywhere, anytime, within 15 minutes. The rapid COVID-19 antigen tests have been used more than 300 million times in over 140 countries and across airports, schools, and government offices to identify contagious individuals and help curb  the spread of infection.

Rapid tests at the point of care improve outcomes for everyone. There are broader use cases and advantages of rapid testing to address pressing health challenges. For instance, rapid tests for malaria, dengue, and HIV can significantly expand access and scale fast diagnosis and treatment in the country's more remote and underserved communities. 

Partnering globally for timely detection and better healthcare delivery

Flexibility and access empower people, governments, and healthcare providers to scale up and better address their current healthcare challenges, especially when managing infectious diseases. For instance, WHO's Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator makes affordable and reliable rapid testing available to low and middle and income countries. Abbott joined the WHO's ACT Accelerator program to provide affordable and rapid testing to people and democratize healthcare.

These partnerships are essential to the future of affordable, reliable, and scalable testing efforts beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible, for instance, to implement robust rapid testing strategies for diseases like malaria, that could make a huge difference in a country like India (home to the fourth-highest malaria burden in the world). Rapid diagnostic tests are the frontline first step of data collection that can provide baseline information for malaria surveillance system. With strategic use of data, health officials can make better decisions about where to deploy the most effective malaria control tools.

This easy affordability and access can be a game-changer for individuals, governments, and healthcare providers. While COVID-19 has renewed our attention to rapid tests, its benefits and applications go far beyond the pandemic. 

Continuous innovation in diagnosis

The ability to assess symptoms, get definitive results and take the next steps can empower individuals to be in control and reduce some of the stress that 'not knowing' brings. The future will have at-home tests for various maladies, from a throat infection to food insensitivity. There is also a strong need and argument for digitizing all lateral flow tests. The results and associated data can be collected and stored digitally on the cloud for future reference. Testing becomes a means to monitor infectious diseases and identify hotspots.

With continuous innovation and a strategic approach, rapid testing offers proactive, prompt diagnosis and benefits both individuals and healthcare experts. Abbott's Pandemic Defense Coalition and Global Viral Surveillance programs continuously work towards assessing viral mutations and strengthening diagnosis. This can empower the broader scientific and medical community to identify potential viral threats and take rapid action when a new one is discovered to tackle the curve of infectious diseases and nip any future pandemic threats.

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