It is a given that for battling any disease or ailment, an early detection and analysis is required. It is essential to ensure the quality of testing with the help of advanced testing equipment, and from the labs, who are accredited to conduct a diagnostic test. Molecular biology has a major role to play in giving the current diagnosis of any disease.
Early detection and analysis are essential to find out what is the cause of an illness, and what is to be done to stop it prom getting the situation more challenging.
The conventional diagnostic model is labor intensive and requires a lot of time to get the test results available. Moreover, because of the complexity and time taken for such testing, this was directed mainly at the hospitalized patients.
Browse detailed report on Molecular Quality Controls Market Growth, Development and Future Scope
What the Tech Revolution Has Done?
The engineering techniques and tech advancements in molecular biology has improved the diagnostic capabilities and accuracy of clinical laboratories.
Amongst the molecular practices, applicability of PCR-based methods has become popular as it allows safe and fast detection of microbes directly from clinical samples.
Clinical labs are increasingly using molecular techniques in diagnosing and monitoring of disease. Nucleic acid amplification tests are popular in the diagnosis of viral infections.
Molecular tests can also detect TB -causing bacterium MTB. Taking into account, the limited sensitivity of smear microscopy, together with the steady rise in drug-resistant MTB, rapid molecular tests seem promising.
Challenges for Molecular Quality Control
Molecular diagnostics has long been the domain of centralized labs because of its dependency on complex infra, skilled manpower and special storage conditions. This has also brought about in the requirement for batch testing for making these facilities safe and affordable.
Thus, samples travel long distances for a test, and the results are delayed. These factors have resulted in concentration of these facilities in urban centres, and poor reach of molecular diagnostics techniques in developing countries.
The poor and unsafe testing during the pandemic was because of the dependence on centralized facilities, limiting the capability to test on demand and take apt action.
The lack of good diagnostics resulting in delayed or inaccurate diagnosis by other methods had increasingly brought about a spread of the COVID-19.
What Can Be Done to Mitigate the Challenges?
Molecular diagnostics techniques are needed to be expanded. Considering the economic constraints, POCT seem promising and several global initiatives are keen to providing these devices.
Testing facilities that can be set up and run quickly, at reasonable costs, with minimal infra requirements and training can come in handy in increasing the reach.
The success of molecular technologies also banks on uncompromised performance and adherence to quality standards laid down by the government
Furthermore, POCT devices manufacturers should focus on simplicity of use, robustness of consumables, safety of the operator; and easy maintainability.
It is because of the large number of accredited labs, the demand for molecular quality control will increase and reach USD 313.7 billion by the end of this decade.