Can Companies like Spotsense act as Test Aggregators ?

 In recent years, production and imports of rapid card tests (RCT) have increased tremendously. Rapid card tests have revolutionized medical diagnostics.

Their demand is surging further – fuelled by the innovation of – card test reader machines (CTRM) – which read and provide quantitative information from the card - after the tests.

Can companies making card test reader machines (CTRM) (like Spotsense) act as aggregators for the large variety of RCTs available today? To answer this question, we must first understand the card tests available in the market today.

Rapid card test OEMs (indigenous or foreign) provide a range of tests with different sensitivity, specificity, complexity, and customizations depending on the target disease and application. Some rapid card tests are designed for professional use in clinics and hospitals, while others are intended for point-of-care or home use.

For example, Indian OEMs have played a crucial role in providing cost-effective and quality diagnostic solutions. Their product line mostly consists of tests for infectious diseases (vector-borne like malaria, HIV, hepatitis, etc), cardiac tests, and at-home pregnancy test kits.

China on the other hand has vast manufacturing capacity and low-cost production. This lets Chinese OEMs produce customized tests for customers for a wide range of rapid tests for infectious diseases (similar to those in India), fertility tests, etc.

While the American and European regions are leading producers of advanced and innovative rapid diagnostic tests, with a focus on high-quality and accurate diagnostic solutions. Their robust regulatory framework ensures the quality and safety of diagnostic products. Their products include tests for drug abuse, neurodegenerative disorder, etc.

Overall, each country has its unique strengths in the rapid card test OEM market and the choice of OEM will depend on various factors such as cost, quality, and regulatory compliance.

“This, however, makes it complex for individual buyers like hospitals or diagnostics to compare tests for purchase.”

This is where I believe that device (rapid tests card reading devices) manufacturing companies can act as aggregators.

1. Device manufacturers often go through an extensive testing procedure before integrating card tests with their machines. They often source rapid card tests from multiple OEMs to compare the same test and its results. This enables them to find the best card test for a disease available in the market in terms of specificity and sensitivity.

2. Sourcing rapid card tests from multiple OEMs also helps them provide a diverse range of products and customization options for their customers. 

3. Being able to source from multiple card test vendors would also enable device manufacturing companies to provide multiple biomarkers for disease. Thus, enabling their customers to get a better overall picture of the disease.

4. Device manufacturing companies acting as aggregators would be beneficial for rapid card test OEMs too. It would enable them to reach new markets and expand their customer base.

Thus, by acting as an aggregator, a rapid card test reading company can leverage its expertise in diagnostic testing and its network of customers and partners to create a one-stop-shop for rapid diagnostic tests, providing customers with quality and affordable solutions for their diagnostic needs.

Finally having aggregated tests would help healthcare providers in India to choose from multiple options and select the most appropriate tests for their patients. Patients on the other hand would get higher quality, affordable, and reliable diagnostic solutions.

However, CTRM manufacturers face some challenges as well. Many of them are start-ups and lack the distribution networks that the RCT manufacturers – many of whom are part of pharma organizations – have built over the years.

Will the large pharma companies – get into this space to act as aggregators?

Well, presently the space needs nimble start-ups to establish the proof of concept to dramatically improve the reach and quality of services in the diagnostic industry.