Microdrop Launches At-Home Blood Testing Platform with 95% Accuracy for Celiac Disease Detection

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that biotechnology company Microdrop recently announced the completion of a study using its chronic disease testing platform, imaware. The results confirmed that the platform achieves an accuracy rate of up to 95% in celiac disease testing. These findings have been published in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM), a top-tier global journal for clinical research.

It is reported that 1.5 million people in the United States are currently affected by celiac disease. Also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy or non-tropical sprue, celiac disease has a higher incidence in North America, Northern Europe, and Australia. The male-to-female ratio is 1:1.3, with peak onset occurring during childhood and adolescence; however, the incidence among the elderly has been increasing in recent years. Patients with this condition are typically abnormally sensitive to wheat flour products containing gluten (commonly referred to as "wheat protein"), due to insufficient enzymatic activity in the small intestinal mucosal cells, which prevents proper breakdown of gluten.

Microdrop is a biotechnology company dedicated to promoting its convenient home health testing platform and raising patient awareness of proactive screening for chronic diseases. The company’s flagship product is imaware. Reportedly, imaware primarily offers home testing for celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and it is the first testing platform to combine four biomarkers into a single assay. The platform not only enables users to perform blood tests at home but also establishes a data-sharing bridge between users and healthcare professionals. Microdrop has disclosed that it will launch additional tests for cardiovascular health, liver disease, and prostate health later this year.

Using the imaware platform is straightforward. Users first log on to the official website and purchase the imaware kit for $99. They then collect a 50–100 microliter blood sample at home using the provided vial, seal it securely, and mail it to imaware’s dedicated laboratory. Results are delivered within five days.

“Home testing provides an effective approach to early disease screening and treatment for consumers,” said Jani Tuomi, head of the imaware platform. “Our platform enables users to comfortably and conveniently complete tests at home and upload the results to a backend system for real-time sharing with physicians, while ensuring that the test outcomes are as scientifically rigorous and efficient as those obtained in laboratory settings. This represents a significant advancement in the field of medical diagnostics.”

Margaret Spitz, a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) appointed by former U.S. President Obama and medical advisor to the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine, stated, “It is worth noting that imaware effectively integrates big data with low-volume blood testing and multiplexed assays for multiple biomarkers, enabling disease identification before symptoms appear. In my view, this marks the beginning of truly patient-centered healthcare.”

“Imaware is the first testing platform to combine four biomarkers into a single assay, delivering results within days that patients can share with their physicians,” said Dr. Stefano Guandalini, Medical Advisor and Founder of the Imaware platform. “This helps reduce the large number of undiagnosed celiac disease cases. The validity of this test has been clinically verified.”

(Compiled by Feng Yutong)