Globalisation can make the world feel like a small place, resulting in a new level proximity that doesn’t just bring people closer together, it allows viruses, bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms to spread more easily.
Globally, infectious diseases are a leading cause of death across all age groups.3 With early identification, treatment is often effective. The reality is, however, that many infections are never diagnosed. Without treatment, curable diseases including pneumonia, tuberculosis and meningitis can become life-threatening. Diseases associated with cancer, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C, can progress, causing serious complications.4 While our ability to identify and monitor disease has improved from previous generations, there is still much work to be done.
The spread of COVID-19 showed the world’s vulnerability to new and emerging disease-causing viruses, for which there are no tests or treatments. Within just a few weeks almost every country reported infections and deaths, billions of people could only leave their homes for essential purposes, economic activity plummeted and healthcare systems quickly became overburdened.5
Unfortunately, this is just one example. Across the globe people face the complexities of infectious disease on a daily basis.
Developed countries are faced with a rise in
HIV/AIDS remain a heavy burden for those living in remote areas where access to testing and treatment is limited
Managing insect-transmitted diseases, like malaria, Zika, dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus, are among the greatest challenges on the global health agenda
Improved diagnostic testing strategies have the potential to help individuals, societies and healthcare systems mitigate the impact of disease.
Diagnostics have become indispensable in identifying and monitoring infectious disease, providing prognoses, determining the best treatment options and predicting treatment responses.6 To manage the wide variety and variability of infectious diseases, comprehensive testing strategies and access to innovative diagnostic tools are essential.
Traditionally, testing is performed in a central laboratory. Advances in automation, test design and analytics are allowing more samples to be processed in less time, but for some infections, time is of the essence. Point-of-care tests, which are performed in close proximity to the patient, such as in an emergency care setting, shorten the time needed to generate results. This allows for earlier identification of infection and initiation of appropriate treatment, which can limit transmission while reducing the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
By administering the right test at the right time, both the quality and cost of care can improve.
Between 60% and 70% of medical decisions are based on in vitro diagnostic test results.7 Throughout each patient’s journey, specific tests are used to inform critical decisions at every stage.
Blood screening: Every year, over 118 million blood and plasma donations are collected for use in supportive care worldwide.8 Reliable access to safe blood and blood products is essential for patients who require transfusion to maintain or improve their health or to save their lives. Additionally, blood and blood components are used in the manufacturing of therapeutics, which rely on quality screening.
Screening for disease prevention: For progressive infections, diagnostic screening tests can help to determine a person’s risk of developing disease. Screening for high-risk HPV, for example, can determine a woman’s likelihood of developing cervical cancer.
Diagnosis at an early disease stage: Some infections have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, including hepatitis C virus. Identifying infection in early stages can improve outcomes for patients. While often referred to as a “silent killer,” HCV is curable if caught early.
Diagnosis and patient prognosis: Antibiotics have served mankind well, but frequent misuse allows some strains of bacteria to become resistant to treatment. Identifying these strains and determining resistance profiles is a critical next step.
Treatment decisions and monitoring: Some infections, like HIV, require sustained therapy. Here, the effectiveness of treatment is determined by measuring viral load—the amount of virus in the body. This helps doctors know if treatment is working or if other options should be explored.
Combating the spread of infectious disease has been a priority for us for decades. We have several initiatives in place to help control this broad category of disease.
The Roche Global Surveillance Program continuously monitors the genetic code of viruses, bacteria and parasites, to ensure tests are detecting the right targets and to aid in the design of the next generation of optimised diagnostics.
When there is an urgent need for a specific test, we can
We are committed to improving access to testing in areas hardest hit by disease, through collaborative initiatives and
Our solid global supply chain allows us to meet the needs of labs and hospitals everywhere in the world, providing essential machines and testing materials.
Supporting innovation remains a core focus area at Roche, helping us to better understand and identify disease while pushing diagnostics and treatment forward.
As new threats emerge and known diseases affect lives, we will continue to work diligently to find innovative solutions to support people and healthcare systems around the world.
References
United Nations. The world’s cities in 2018.
Flightrader24. Charting the decline of air traffic caused by covid-19.
Young, R O. Market Analysis of Infectious Diseases. Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. 2019. Volume 3, Issue 2.
Mayo Clinic. Infectious Diseases. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/symptoms-causes/syc-20351173. Accessed April 7, 2021.
Bloom D E, Kuhn M, Prettner K. Modern Infectious Diseases: Macroeconomic Impacts and Policy Responses. NBER. 2020
World Health Organization. A guide to aid the selection of diagnostic tests. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/BLT.16.187468. Accessed April 7, 2021.
The Lewin Group. The Value of Diagnostics: Innovation, Adoption and Diffusion Into Health Care. 2005. http://www.lewin.com/content/dam/Lewin/Resources/Site_Sections/Publications/ValueofDiagnostics.pdf. Accessed April 7, 2001.
World Health Organization. Blood safety and availability. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability. Accessed April 7, 2021.
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