The global market for point-of-care diagnostics is increasing dramatically and is forecast to reach $18.7bn in 2014, rising from $13.4bn in 2009. The ability to deliver laboratory results outside of the hospital environment is enabling this increase, with blood glucose monitoring and blood chemistry & electrolyte providing the two main segments, along with cardiac markers, the third and fastest growing segment.
Consumers now demand results instantly and obtaining them when it is convenient to them, fitting in with their busy lifestyles. For instance, blood glucose monitoring allows diabetics to put their health management in their own hands and allows them to supply historical data to their doctors, when they choose to.
Many tests that started out in laboratories, are now being developed into personal home testing devices and over recent years, we at Gm Design & Development have developed many such devices. This is playing a big part in how consumers now and will manage their healthcare, combine this with improvements to telecommunications and the future of healthcare is looking very interesting.
