Laboratory diagnostic investigations conducted on human tissues and fluids provide important information on human health and have various applications. Thanks to sophisticated research tools, research methods have changed, making an extraordinary contribution in terms of evolution and precision.
The results in prevention and diagnosis are excellent, with more effective patient management and subsequent cost savings. In fact, 70% of clinical decisions are based on laboratory information, in relation to the 3% impact on the health budget. New instrumentation also has surprising results in the treatment phase, thanks to diagnostic innovations stimulated by “omics” for personalized medicine.
We are referring to Medicine 4.0, due to the centrality assumed by computerization and digitization, not only in the analysis and investigation phase, but also in the processing and synthesis of the data obtained.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, it is possible to analyze a sample and diagnose any disease. Digitization, through sharing, makes it possible to examine data sets, identifying the useful links for the development of drugs and for the continuous improvement of AI algorithms, on which the healthcare sector is investing heavily, with a forecast of $200 billion in 2030.
An interesting trend worldwide is the growth of IVD (In Vitro Diagnostic) equipment, for which the market value is expected to double in 10 years.
In the future, the total convergence of the digital, physical, chemical and biological world is looming, wherein the laboratory becomes a fundamental factor in medical practice and is increasingly integrated into the clinical-diagnostic process. New “medical knowledge” is based not only on the doctor's “evidence-based medicine” approach, but also on greater precision in the diagnosis supported by the data.
Investments are being planned to achieve massive networking of healthcare devices in 2026 and by 2030, the IoT is expected to be replaced by the Internet of Everything, as well 5G technology being replaced by 6G for global coverage in the healthcare market.
In addition to Big Data health, artificial intelligence and robotic technologies, another frontier is miniaturization and lab-on-a-chip, which are devices that incorporate one or more analyses in a single chip.
Thanks to design, laboratory medical professionals, doctors, biologists, and clinical engineers have at their disposal instruments that are increasingly intuitive, safe, and ergonomic. Design combines the central role of IT and digital tools with aesthetic quality, ease of use and modularity, with the choice of resistant materials that are capable of being sanitized. This has a positive impact in helping people, on the productivity of medical staff, on the efficiency of health facilities and on the effectiveness of research.