During the pandemic it became obvious for Okos Diagnostics to tackle the plastic waste coming from plastic COVID antigen tests. However, rapid antigen tests are used for a lot of other infectious diseases and the technology is in an enormous upwards trend. Already before the pandemic, more than 2 billion lateral flow assays were produced each year. The problem is that these tests are single-use, and non-recyclable, as Darren Rowles pointed out in his great article about diagnostic waste in 2019.
(Why the diagnostics industry has a responsibility to tackle plastic pollution)
The pandemic opened the gate for lateral flow assays to be used for other medical conditions, and to decentralize healthcare. Our biodegradable housing, Gelassette, is a universal cassette that could be used for all rapid test use cases. Imagine a biodegradable self-test for vitamin D, thyroid function, or HIV, that is bio-based and would dissolve in water after use. Gaining valuable information about your health, should not come at the cost of our nature.
Want to know more, or become our partner?
📩 info@okosdiagnostics.com.
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