Hundreds of patients across the UK will soon benefit from the launch of a new artificial intelligence smartphone App that can help detect the early stages of kidney disease. 

This visionary application, developed by Healthy.io, transforms a smartphone’s camera into a clinical-grade tool for the early self-detection of kidney disease before allowing patients to communicate their results to their GP in just a few moments from the comfort of their home.

In the UK, one in ten people currently suffer from chronic kidney disease. This new self-testing technology is designed to reduce unnecessary trips to GPs and hospitals to avoid overcrowding and save valuable time for healthcare professionals, but also to encourage more people to seek early diagnosis.

NHSX, the digital transformation branch of the NHS, is supporting Healthy.io, a pioneer in AI tools, with a commitment to help the company offer AI-based home test kits to 500,000 patients over the next three years, of whom more than 3,500 have already received one.

Kidney disease detection becomes faster and more accessible

The promising potential of the AI-powered device is highlighted by the fact that it is one of 42 innovations supported by the first round of the AI in Health and Care Award, a programme managed by the Accelerated Access Collaborative in partnership with the NHSX and the National Institute for Health Research.

Healthy.io will provide patients with a test kit comprising a standard urine dipstick, a urine collection jar and a patented colour chart. Patients will be able to scan the dipstick on the colour chart using the smartphone’s camera, via the application they will have downloaded to their smartphone. Thanks to AI and colorimetric analysis, the application will provide a reading of the results equivalent to that of a laboratory device.

The accuracy of the readings is the product of many application tests by analysing the test images and producing results regardless of lighting conditions, settings or camera type. 

The value that this innovation brings to the health sector by explaining how patients will now be able to be diagnosed earlier and health professionals will be able to save precious time, both of which will ultimately save more lives. This innovation is another step forward in making high-quality healthcare more accessible – in some cases without leaving the comfort of your own home.

In fact, according to the York Health Economics Consortium, if deployed nationally, Healthy.io’s solution could save more than 11,000 lives and save the NHS at least £660 million over five years.

The enormous breakthrough that the device is bringing to the industry and the importance of the introduction and development of AI in the NHS which is already bringing radical benefits to patients and clinicians. Mainly by enabling earlier diagnosis while improving patient care and treatment outcomes by freeing up valuable time for healthcare professionals.

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