UK Edition
At-home test kits which diagnose urinary tract infections "within minutes" are being trialed on the NHS and could save 10 million GP appointments every year.
The kits allow patients to self-test using a dipstick, scan the result onto their smartphone, and be diagnosed via an app.
A trial of the system, created by Healthyio, is currently underway in Lincolnshire and has been used by almost 1,000 women.
Around half of those using the service received antibiotics, helping to reduce over-prescription.
Across the region 38 pharmacies have taken part in the scheme, and 100 per cent of those said they would recommend the service, according to a survey by Healthyio.
Four fifths (82 per cent) of women surveyed said they would have otherwise gone to their GP if they hadn’t used the at-home service.
Service could help 'divert traffic' from GPs
Katherine Ward, the chief commercial officer, said the service can help "divert traffic" from GP services, which are currently under significant pressure.
The original pilot trial in Lincolnshire ran for six months but has now been extended for another six, with hopes of similar trials taking place across the country.
UTI appointments account for between 1 and 3 per cent of all GP appointments every year, equating to up to 10 million consultations.
Emergency admissions for UTIs have also increased over the decade leading up the pandemic, according to official statistics.
Each patient is asked a series of questions by a pharmacist to determine their eligibility before being given the test.
Once they’ve downloaded the app they can scan the dipstick using their smartphone, and AI technology assesses it using colorimetric analysis to determine if they have a UTI.
The patient can then return to one of the participating pharmacies to receive a diagnosis based on their symptoms and test results.
Up to 4.8 million women suffer from a UTI every year, estimates suggest, and the infection accounts for 20 per cent of antibiotic prescribing in primary care.