The Future of Lateral Flow Test Technology

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Episode 263 • 25th May 2022 • Global Medical Device Podcast powered by Greenlight Guru • Greenlight Guru + Medical Device Entrepreneurs

How many COVID tests have you taken at home, in hospitals, or at drive-thru clinics? Are you sick and tired of the long wait times to access the tests you need? Do you worry about whether you followed the instructions correctly or not? Does it take too long to process results - only to get false positives or negatives?

In this episode of the Global Medical Device Podcast Jon Speer and Etienne Nichols talk to Jeremy Stackawitz, CEO of Senzo Health about his company's focus on improving current testing product offerings through better performance. Jeremy has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and Senzo Health is an in vitro diagnostics and point-of-care company working on COVID-19 technology.

Some of the highlights of this episode include:

Positive vs. Negative Test Results: Jeremy discusses the pros and cons of COVID testing by using lateral flow products to increase the time to results and improve performance.
Supply and Demand Constraints: Senzo Health’s reason for being is to offer a better test that resonates with end-users, government contractors, healthcare providers, and others.
Main Barrier: Lateral flow tests are simple, but the technology and performance is limited. However, these tests could be good tools to use to monitor your own health, are relatively inexpensive, user-friendly, and fast.
Data: With new technologies, Jeremy gains confidence and believes in Senzo Health’s products because of data generated and shared with investors, regulatory bodies, and other people in the industry.
Healthcare reform: People are genuinely interested in having an active role in managing their health care and know the system is broken. It makes more sense to bundle tests, take in one place, get results fast, and develop a treatment plan.
Mitigate Risk: Make decisions based on priorities, different technologies, and limitations. It takes the right technology, team, and vision - know when to pivot.

Memorable quotes from Jeremy Stackawitz:

“Our test is 10,000 times more sensitive than the dozen or so current offerings that you can buy.”

“People have realized, ‘Wow, these could be really good tools for me to use to monitor my own health, they’re relatively inexpensive, they’re fast.’”

“With new technologies, what gives you confidence is seeing data and then seeing data in other people’s hands.”

“I think our problem will be not so much finding a home for the technology, it’s going to be prioritizing what the best match for what our technology can deliver and the unmet needs in various markets.”