I seem to have lost track of advancements in dipstick technology understanding that it is well established in such areas as pregnancy testing. Home glucose testing for diabetics, of course, is growing increasingly sophisticated with the test strips being read by a meter. A recent article indicated that this meter technology can be replaced by the camera in a smartphone for recording and analyzing dipstick color changes when screening for kidney disease (see: FDA approves smartphone camera–based dipstick product). Below is an excerpt from the article:
Healthy.io, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, has obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing clearance for its first digital dipstick kit offering. The Dip.io is advertised on the company’s website as having the accuracy of “the standard lab-based urinalysis analyzer.” ....The urinalysis dipstick includes 10 determinations, including indicators for possible CKD, on the strip....Dip.io home testing for protein, glucose, and blood in urine can be enormously helpful for patients. It is also a welcome tool helping improve diagnosis and awareness of chronic kidney disease....The dipstick uses “computer vision algorithms” and a “unique calibration method” to ensure accurate reading and interpretation of results, accounting for the many different smartphone cameras available and “infinite lighting conditions,” according to the company’s website. A photo of the dipstick with its color changes as test results will then be automatically sent to a patient’s electronic medical record so a clinical professional can follow up.
Given that there is now at least one way for consumers to accurately image and interpret dip stick color changes without an expensive and specialized meter, look for consumer-oriented dip stick technology to rapidly increase. Ultimately, I think that there will be some sort of monthly health monitoring regimen available to consumers with perhaps multiple types of dipsticks and also home-based mini-analyzers. The results, including the dip stick images, will be uploaded to the consumer's health record in the cloud. There will be a distinction made between consumer-generated test results and those generated by healthcare professionals. Computerized analytics will surveil both the professional and consumer portions of the e-health record and generate a warning when significant results are entered. Meanwhile, here are some interesting results about the incidence of chronic kidney disease in the U.S. (see: Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States):
- The overall prevalence of CKD [chronic kidney disease] in the general population is approximately 14 percent.
- High blood pressure and diabetes are the main causes of CKD. Almost half of individuals with CKD also have diabetes and/or self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- More than 661,000 Americans have kidney failure. Of these, 468,000 individuals are on dialysis, and roughly 193,000 live with a functioning kidney transplant.
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