The American National Kidney Foundation and Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System have partnered with Israel-based startup Healthy.io to enable smartphone-based urine tests at home. On Monday, the three will launch a clinical trial to test the technology among Geisinger’s patients.
Using computer vision algorithms, artificial intelligence, and the smartphone’s own camera, Healthy.io transforms a regular smartphone into a device that performs lab-standard urine analysis. Users receive a urine sample kit and a dipstick that tests ten parameters, including a range of infections, chronic illnesses, and pregnancy-related complications, then scan the strip’s results with their phone. The company’s app provides step-by-step instructions, performs an analysis based on the image and automatically sends the results to the patient's electronic medical record for clinical follow-up.
The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Tel Aviv.
The U.S. pilot trial will focus on testing for chronic kidney disease (CKD), a gradual and chronic loss of kidney function, among patients with high blood pressure. Around 30 million Americans have CKD, but nearly 90% do not know they have the condition, according to the foundation, and hypertension is a contributing risk factor. Other risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and family history.
"This new trial using a smartphone app and urinalysis kit will provide important information on how to increase testing for CKD in this high-risk population," said Kerry Willis, chief scientific officer at the foundation, in a statement. The foundation hopes that the ability to perform home-based test will make it easier for at-risk patients to comply with regular checkups, she added, and will lead to earlier diagnosis and reduced harm.
"Our mission is to use advanced computer vision and patient-centric design to let clinicians empower their patients at scale without additional cost or effort," said Yonatan Adiri, CEO of Healthy.io, in a statement. "Like a Netflix for adherence, we lean on the spread of digital technology and efficient logistics to offer on-demand testing delivered directly to the home. With a smartphone in your pocket, the point of care becomes wherever you are."
