Moletest, an Edinburgh-based healthtech company, is offering nomela, a CE-marked screening test for pigmented skin lesions suspected of melanoma, to healthcare professionals nationwide.
The solution aims to offer healthcare providers the ability to reduce dermatology referrals to secondary care through its rapid process involving the taking of high-quality images and the provision of immediate analysis of results through secure 4G communications. The software is integrated with a single-use iPad, which Moletest Scotland now wants to evaluate for clinical and technical usability in a real-world setting.
The company is offering the skin cancer screening technology to clinicians and service managers across the country, allowing them to play a role in developing its practical use. While ongoing clinical trials in secondary care are focused on confirming the accuracy of melanoma screening, Moletest is also looking to confirm the practicality of the device through a usability evaluation in a real-world setting, to provide evidence of nomela’s capabilities, but also to highlight developments that can be made to address unmet needs.
How will the process work?
Healthcare professionals participating in the usability evaluation will be trained to take images of skin lesions or moles suspected of having melanoma using a dedicated nomela iPad. The images will then be analysed using five algorithms to provide an instant result of either “No evidence of melanoma” or “Melanoma not excluded”. The test results can be viewed by clinicians and compared to their own analysis, but are not intended to influence the clinical decision. For each test performed, practices will receive financial compensation for their expertise.
Bruce Murray, CTO of Moletest, commented on the evaluation, explaining that this is an invaluable opportunity for clinicians to gain priority access to this innovative solution. Murray noted that many healthcare professionals report that they are not adequately trained and do not feel sufficiently equipped to recognise skin cancer with confidence. With its high accuracy and speed, nomela provides healthcare professionals and patients with the support, speed and reassurance needed to screen for melanoma, making it an invaluable addition to the skin cancer screening process.
As the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the healthcare industry, 59% of people who noticed changes in the appearance of a mole did not contact their general practitioner, resulting in an increasing number of undiagnosed patients. Through its speed, nomela technology also aims to reduce the workload of primary and secondary healthcare professionals, which will in turn help improve patient outcomes.