Technological Innovations Driving Lab Medicine

Technology pushes the medical industry, and recent advancements hugely impact stationary medical lab techniques and laboratory travel careers. However, with so many creations introduced to the market every week, it can be challenging to keep up with all the latest tech gadgets and programs you may have to encounter in your profession.

To get you started, here are the top five technology innovations from our experts on dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA, that are impacting medical labs today.

Five Tech Innovations Transforming the Way Medical Labs Function

As we mentioned before, new medical lab innovations are emerging every day. Here are just a few new things helping to transform medical labs for the better.

1. Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS) tech for substance abuse monitoring

Alcala Labs is now offering a Mitra microsampling device commercially to substance abuse treatment centers. Using this VAMS technology, the Mitra allows testing for opioids and alcohol with a superficial finger prick on site. This substitutes the need for those with lab travel jobs to order urine samples and yields more accurate results by decreasing the possibility of specimen tampering.

2. Adhesive patches for monitoring blood glucose levels

Diabetics will no longer have to stick their fingers to determine their blood sugar levels. An adhesive patch, created by a University of Bath research unit, is capable of using hair follicles to draw glucose from fluid between cells to test. The patch can keep track of glucose levels throughout the day with no need for blood calibration.

3. New blood test improves accuracy for prostate cancer risk assessment

A new blood test has been designed that paints a more precise picture of prostate cancer danger in men. Instead of calculating PSA as standard tests do, the latest IsoPSA test calculates molecular transformations within the PSA protein. This unique technique can more accurately specify who suffers from high-risk illness and decreases false positives associated with standard testing methods.

4. Refined cervical HPV tests for early cervical cancer detection

An analysis published by the JAMA Network indicates that traditional Pap smears are less practical at detecting early phases of cervical cancer than cervical HPV tests. Detection of the virus, which is the top cause of cervical cancer, can skillfully predict who will grow precancerous lesions.

5. Home screening tools for colon cancer assist with early detection

Colon cancer is the second highest cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., but intrusive colonoscopies often deter people from taking the initiative to have screenings performed. The Cologuard home screening equipment assists with earlier detection and permits people to evaluate their risk from the convenience of their houses.

These are just a few of the technological innovations that are transforming the medical lab industry today. With the constant growth happening all around us, you can be sure more earth-shattering developments are coming for the industry in the future. Contact us today if you require diagnostic dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA. We are here to help.