UTI test kit with smartphone scanner to launch in August

A medtech enterprise is launching an at-home, non-invasive UTI testing kit that turns a smartphone camera into a clinical grade scanner.

TestCard’s solution combines a non-invasive urine test kit, embedded into a postcard, with an accompanying app that turns a mobile phone’s camera into a clinical-grade scanner. This aims to detect a urinary tract infection (UTI) quickly and easily with the app providing immediate results that can be shared with a healthcare professional or GP.

Founded by Dr Andrew Botham and Luke Heron, TestCard won 'Top Emerging Technology' at CES 2019 during the Global Innovation Expo, in Las Vegas. As well as receiving several awards and accolades, the company has secured several rounds of Angel and VC funding from investors including Plug and Play Ventures.

The founders want to work in partnership with healthcare providers to help minimise appointments and save healthcare professionals time.

Launching in the UK in August 2020, TestCard's technology has proven to be more reliable than professional dipstick reading devices after a pilot study with a major diagnostics company. The technology was put through its paces using numerous samples in various different environmental conditions against the reading technology and came out on top.

TestCard’s testing strips utilise colorimetric and lateral flow rapid diagnostics - the kind of technology used in standard dipsticks and pregnancy tests.

The results are provided by the app to the user in simple language, avoiding large numbers of nonsensical numerical values. The in-depth information is still available.

The testing kits will be available directly through the TestCard website for the launch period and the company is also in talks with high street pharmacies.

TestCard was born after a discussion when waiting to pick up their children at the school gates. Dr. Botham and Heron were talking about medical tests and how people, especially men, delay seeking professional help. They saw a problem with the way people traditionally accessed diagnostic tests, which can be time-consuming and delay treatment.

Dr Andrew Botham says: “It’s our aim to make testing fast, accurate, and accessible for all. When you take a TestCard UTI test, the results screen indicates a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and tells you if you need to seek medical advice. There’s no medical jargon or complicated numbers. The results are private and secure - you’re the only person who can decide if you want to share them with your doctor. Your doctor can then use the detailed numbers and analysis, which sits behind the results screen, to decide how best to treat you.

“We have more treatments, more tests, and more people than ever before. But people still need to leave their homes to attend GPs or Emergency rooms to access healthcare, this isn’t scalable. We’re able to provide different routes to the same treatment destinations.”

Alongside UTI tests, TestCard is working to develop diabetic screening, pregnancy and ovulation tests, kidney function, a drugs misuse test, and even a urine malaria test.