A new device developed by Israeli company PixCell Medical to enable home blood tests could revolutionise at-home oncology treatment for immunocompromised patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Many chemotherapy treatments can currently be taken at home, yet patients are required to have a full Complete Blood Count (CBC) test to check if they are eligible for treatment and must receive regular blood tests in a hospital where they are at high risk of infection.
The CEO of PixCell Medical, Dr. Avishay Bransky, said that “patients receiving oncology therapies are immunocompromised and susceptible to infection”, and “a hospital environment presents a major risk, due to potential contact with other patients, staff and for hospital-acquired infection”.
The HemoScreen device will enable patients to test their blood levels safely and routinely at home, using disposable cartridges for a full CBC test. The testing kit shortens diagnostic results delivery from days to less than six minutes and will allow doctors to remotely monitor the process.
Last month, PixCell announced a collaboration with Interreg Germany-Denmark’s Changing Cancer Care initiative to develop this procedure. The Israeli company has also worked with health funds, hospitals and studies in Australia, the US and Sweden.
Dr. Niels Henrik Holländer of Changing Cancer Care said that “currently, ill patients must travel to clinical centres for blood tests, not knowing if they are ready for treatment, spending hours waiting for their CBC result, only to be told that they aren’t ready yet”. “With HemoScreen, we can potentially save patients significant time and energy exertion when undergoing these serious treatments, and also save time and costs for hospitals”, he added.
