Emerging Diagnostic Technologies in Healthcare

As a Molecular Predictive & Diagnostic Lab Head, Winny Xie designs a molecular diagnostic method to detect molecular biomarkers, which is useful in medical areas such as infectious diseases, genetic disorders, pharmacogenomics, prenatal testing, etc. She also does the method evaluation and the analysis of the evaluation result. The method will then be used as routine clinical testing.

What are the challenges that industry leaders are facing in the diagnostic industry?

I believe one of the major concerns in the diagnostics industry was testing. We had trouble finding the requisite reagents, equipment, and skilled staff to conduct the essential tests. It was crucial to confirm the test in our lab to ensure that the reagent and the apparatus could detect COVID 19 on time. To make the requirement more permissive for the distributor to register the reagent and instrument in Indonesia, the government took the initiative to develop the in-house test.

Another challenge was to support patient care and lower the cost of testing. To stop the spread of viruses, the government intended to conduct testing at a cost that patients could afford. As a result, many laboratories must bargain with the reagent distributors, and the laboratories and the reagent suppliers must lower their operating expenses and reagent prices to support this program.

How do you manage the rise in testing demand, and how do you give the patient a quicker diagnosis?

We consider the sequence of tests to satisfy the needs for preventative and preemptive testing. The later stage will be focused on therapy to offer a speedier diagnosis. Before the disease manifests, we do a reassessment, and then we design the diagnostic test once the sickness has manifested and the correct diagnosis is required. We can assist in determining the patient's prognosis following the onset of the condition as well as the most effective course of therapy.

What technologies have you used to deliver faster and more efficient results for your clients?

In a separate lab at Prodia, we work with a variety of technologies, including molecular markers for prognosis and prediction, an advanced immunology lab, mass spectrometry, separation sciences, and microbiological methods. In addition, Sanger sequencing and Next-Gene sequencing are technologically provided psychosocial therapies for mental health. For anatomy pathology, it comprises of a tool to make a slide out of tissues and a processor to extract a piece of tissue that has been implanted in film. However, we still require some instruments to detect many pathogens from a single cell. Our science laboratory and mass spectrometry set us apart from competitors. Only a few governments and private hospitals conducted tests for infectious illnesses. But following the pandemic, many labs began to invest in and concentrate on core testing, which includes cancer diagnostics and targeted cancer therapy.

Is there any particular technology that has revolutionized the diagnostics industry?

In 2017, we started working on our first next-generation sequencer, which we are presently experimenting with. We only have one type of external sensing sequence at the moment. Still, we would like to explore next-generation sequencing using the many technologies that are currently accessible because they might function differently and serve different purposes for the instrument.

What is your one piece of advice for industrial leaders on how to provide clients with a faster diagnosis?

To collaborate on this health endeavor, I think we should emphasize government-sponsored medical research and initiatives as well as private or hospital lab work. We examine lab results when required, and sometimes labs can be helpful in determining patient care and management .