Illnesses are spreading faster than ever, putting a strain on healthcare systems and leaving many without the care they need. Today, 4.5 billion people — more than half the global population — lack access to essential services. This comes as healthcare provider burnout reaches an all-time high. And with population growth set to rise this decade, this situation is anticipated to worsen.
LightAI [ALGO: CBOE] has found a way to reduce some of the pressure placed on healthcare providers by augmenting the detection of StrepA, a severe bacterial infection that’s reached a 20-year high, according to 2023 preliminary data from the CDC. Classified as one of the World Health Organization’s top five health threats, each year, 600 million are infected with StrepA, killing almost as many children as malaria.
In development is a platform that allows healthcare providers to take an image of the back of the throat using AI and smartphone technology. In under a minute, they’ll know whether or not a patient has it. This can be done during an in-person appointment or via a telehealth call, increasing accessibility while quickening the pace of diagnosis.
Eight years of development have successfully led the company’s platform to attain a 97% accuracy rating in pre-FDA validation studies and a 100% negative predictive value (NPV), meaning the platform can say with a high degree of certainty whether someone’s sore throat is or is not a case of StrepA. This development is the result of $20 million in R&D over eight years in collaboration with partners like UNM Hospitals, UCLA Health, The University of Rhode Island, the American Heart Association, Uganda Heart Health, Cincinnati Children’s, and many others.
With 4.9 billion smartphones in use today, LightAI has the potential to transform them into powerful health diagnostic tools that can help healthcare providers support their patients. This platform can potentially expand its capabilities to detect other throat conditions, as well as conditions in the human eye and skin.
LightAI’s goal is to empower billions of people worldwide by transforming their smartphones into digital clinical labs that make quality healthcare affordable and accessible to all.
Immediate Diagnosis Can Help to Avoid Crippling Outcomes
The reality of the situation is that it is severe in some cases of StrepA. Invasive Group StrepA requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. However, the average timeline for diagnosis today stands between 24 to 72 hours. Real-time diagnosis at the point of contact can mean the difference between survival and a more crippling outcome.
StrepA is on the rise as our immunity to it weakens.
Lockdowns, which took place during the peak of the pandemic in 2020, and overprescription of antibiotics account for widespread susceptibility. Today, six out of 10 in the US are prescribed antibiotics when only two or three out of 10 require them. This has forged the path for an uptick in antimicrobial resistance, which is also considered by the World Health Organization to be one of the most pressing public health issues of our time.
Individuals at the Forefront
LightAI’s [ALGO: CBOE] solution of smartphone-based quick StrepA identification has the potential to drastically cut the wait time, open up access, reduce the overprescription of antibiotics, and eliminate costs for healthcare systems. The company’s mission is to create a future where access to care is equitable, and diagnosis is fast and accurate. Its platform can potentially create a massive shift in how healthcare is provided, with smartphones as the gateway and individuals at the forefront.
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
