Q&A: Developing a smart test for a range of conditions

Med-Tech Innovation News caught up with Angelica Kohlmann, co-founder of Bloom Diagnostics, to talk about its technology that can help detect a range of medical conditions, using a combination of advanced biotechnology, cloud computing and scientific research.

First of all, tell us about the change in medtech you have seen since the start of 2020?

COVID-19 showed us there clearly is a need for better access to healthcare. Imagine telling someone, who isn’t feeling well NOT to go and see a doctor, but to stay at home. Yet, this is exactly what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unless someone was already severely ill, there was no help. For the first time, people understood that better support at home is necessary, and that people are capable of testing themselves. However, COVID-19 self-tests offered in the market were mostly low quality. Some medtech companies, such as Bloom Diagnostics, started developing smart tests before the pandemic. Today, it is understood how important this field is. 

What has the effect been on Bloom Diagnostics?

Bloom Diagnostics officially entered the market in September 2021 following the opening of its new flagship store in Zurich and the launch of its first test to detect an iron deficiency or overload. The smart test delivers real-time results and interpretation to lay users, directly to their Bloom App. Many more tests will follow soon, as for ovarian egg cell reserve, or for thyroid health. The outcome was spectacular: People immediately understood the value of testing and were very excited with the detailed reports. There were even days where we saw queues of people to test in our stations.

You have developed a smart diagnostic device yourself? Tell us about it, and if you can, tell us about its development.

You start the development of a diagnostic device with the design. This is also required from a regulatory perspective. However, in the course of the development, you will learn a lot and need to redesign. The more open you are to implement lessons learnt along the way, the better the product will be. Usability, such as being customer-friendly, is a key element and this also applies to the hardware and software. Bloom chose a Swiss CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation), who would later produce the electronic device, to help develop it. This was a wise decision as today’s production is seamless. The IP belongs to Bloom. In the same way, Bloom Tests are developed. For this, Bloom chose various companies in Europe that are specialised in the field and have extensive production expertise.

The greatest development challenge was to have all parts work well together, the electronic device or Bloom Lab, the Bloom Tests, and the Bloom App. The software and algorithms in the background are powerful and orchestrate the seamless integration, with a precise read-out of results and intelligent conclusions depending on the input of users regarding their condition and symptoms.

People have become more accustomed to self-testing during the pandemic. Is this trend here to stay? What other trends do you see from this period sticking in the long-term? What do you think the wider impact of self-testing is likely to be?

We have a vision: If someone doesn’t feel well, a few questions in a medically approved app added to home testing could potentially guide the person, as well as a medical professional, could. Telemedicine will offer additional support, as will e-prescriptions and instant orders of the necessary drugs at the closest pharmacy, with instant home delivery. Of course, medical professionals and doctors will still be needed, but mostly for severe cases. Those cases will be sent to them via the app. When patients arrive, doctors already have a good understanding of what is going on. This way, more lives can be saved.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

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