IT and IVD Companies A Perfect Match, Says Report

NEW YORK - July 9, 2013 - PRLog -- Traditional in vitro diagnostic tests can be interpreted by a physician or lab technologist, but for new complex tests that use DNA sequencing, proteomics or mass spectroscopy, computers are coming to the rescue.  There is a noticeable increase in “bioinformatic” products, such as algorithmic support programs and image-reading software, says Kalorama Information.   The healthcare market research publisher says the sheer volume and complexity of test data that is being produced is outpacing the ability of practicing physicians to stay current, and driving new partnerships between computing giants and IVD titans, according to its new market research report, Bioinformatics in IVD Testing.

According to Kalorama information, computer diagnostics could offer opportunity for clinical laboratory professionals to add value to clinicians in diagnosing diseases. IT companies in collaboration with test vendors are developing computer software that complements the skills of human test interpretation.   The stakes are high as there is increased pressure to reduce medical errors, including misdiagnosis. Further, the ability to use clinical data to develop predictive algorithms adds significant value to lab test data.   IVD companies including: Qiagen, Roche, Illumina, and Life Technologies are expanding their bioinformatics platforms to develop new diagnostics.

“It’s a new dimension of precision compared to traditional diagnostics,” said Shara Rosen, analyst and author of the report.  “The addition of informatics provides an added layer of precision by matching test data to disease progression and therapeutic outcomes.”

In a bioinformatics-based test, Rosen says, test results are treated as data points that then can be combined with multi-patient information stored digitally in electronic medical records and other historical databases to create information that creates evidence-based precedence for treatment options.

Software specialists such as Ingenuity Systems (Redwood City, CA) are teaming up with molecular technology companies to develop algorithms, while pathology test companies such as Dako and Aperio have also partnered with imaging software innovators such as Munich-based Definiens.

The most well-known example, the report indicates is the use of IBM’s Watson supercomputer for cancer diagnostics.  The computer is best known for defeating the best human Jeopardy! players on television.  Doctors will access Watson through a tablet or computer. Watson will compare a patient's medical records to what it has learned and make several recommendations (not make a decision) in decreasing order of confidence.   In the cancer program, the computer will be considering what treatment is most likely to succeed. The system uses Watson's computational and natural language processing abilities as well as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) clinical expertise and cancer information to create an evidence-based decision support.

Kalorama’s report, Bioinformatics in IVD Testing, describes many more of the partnerships and collaborations between computing giants and in vitro diagnostic experts.  The report profiles companies and analyzes the impact this trend will have on future markets. The report can be found at http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Bioinformatics-IVD-Testing-7621877/

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research (http://www.kaloramainformation.com/) in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/KaloramaInfo), LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2177845&trk=hb_side_g) and our blog (http://www.kaloramakeypoint.blogspot.com/).