India's Diagnostics Industry
Point-of-Care Tests
How rapid tests like glucometers, pregnancy kits and malaria tests give results in minutes without labs, and how they help rural areas.
Point-of-care tests give results quickly, near the patient.
Examples
- Glucometers for blood sugar.
- Pregnancy test kits.
- Rapid malaria and dengue tests.
- Haemoglobin meters.
Benefits
- Results in minutes.
- No need for labs.
- Useful in rural areas.
Trade-offs
Some rapid tests are less accurate than lab tests.
Local makers
Indian firms like Molbio developed portable TrueNat machines for TB and COVID.
ASHA workers
Frontline health workers use simple tests in villages.
The village test
An ASHA worker uses a rapid test to check a child for malaria in a remote village.
Thinking all tests need big labs
Point-of-care tests give quick results.
Key takeaways
- Point-of-care tests give fast results.
- They help rural areas.
- Some are less accurate.
- Molbio's TrueNat is an Indian innovation.
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