As technology advances across spheres, the medical field has embraced the change too with diagnostic laboratories constantly innovating and upgrading their mechanics. Laboratories have always been at the forefront of medical advances, with newer tests, updated analysis parameters and sophisticated machinery replacing the outdated ones. It is imperative that technicians stay up-to-date with the latest advances and developments to ensure accurate test results. For any patient, the right diagnosis is of prime importance to establish the existence of a disease or to analyse the symptoms before effective treatment can be administered.

Some of the trends which have taken the diagnostics industry a notch higher have been interestingly progressive and transformative, and include:

Wellness diagnostics
Addressing the needs of the modern consumer, who is becoming increasingly health-conscious, various diagnostic tests are being offered as a wellness healthcare package. From screening tests to basic blood tests and infertility tests, modern diagnostics can transform lives by detecting problems at an early stage and helping them make the necessary lifestyle changes.

Wearable wellness
The use of smartphones and wearable fitness technology has increased, with people keen to track their physical fitness levels and monitor their diet. Using technology, people are now able to monitor their sleep patterns too, which goes a long way in identifying modern health issues like stress, fatigue and insomnia, among others.

Home-tests
Thanks to the availability of portable health monitoring services which can be used at home, people are now finding it convenient to Using a single drop of blood, information about their blood sugar levels is available in the palm of their hands. Besides this, there are various other medical devices which have been introduced to check for other illnesses as well. This technology has greatly helped make diagnosis more accessible for those who are physically challenged or live in areas with limited access to quality healthcare.

It is imperative that technicians stay up-to-date with the latest advances and developments to ensure accurate test results

Molecular diagnostics
Molecular diagnostics is one of the fastest growing pathology sectors which identify genetic markers like nucleic acid and proteins at a molecular level. Successfully proven to be beneficial to people with chronic disorders, this technology is being increasingly developed for genetic testing, infectious diseases testing, blood screening, oncology testing, cardiovascular testing and others. This growth is also flanked by rapid turnaround time, low cost, convenient workflow, and high sensitivity.

Epigenetic diagnostics
Epigenetic changes are inherited changes to the DNA molecules, that don't affect the actual sequence of the DNA, and have been described as ‘Post-it Notes’ on genes. Epigenetic changes, including the addition of methyl groups, can cause activate a genetic condition or make a gene dormant. The detection of their presence or absence could help with early diagnosis of severe conditions, or could indicate about diseases that are more likely to progress quickly.

Fluid biopsy
During the course of treating cancers, re-biopsies are required at times. In modern times, fluid biopsies, which isolate cancers cells from a simple blood sample, have replaced invasive biopsies, which were traditionally carried out. Fluid biopsies are also more commercially feasible and more comfortable for both the patient and the caregiver.

3D anatomical models
The latest trend to hit the diagnostic market is 3D printing which allows radiologists and clinicians to bring to life body parts and tumours which were previously available only as flat diagrams. Using technology, the pathology industry has come a long way from curative to preventive healthcare plans and has single-handedly changed the way healthcare is managed in India. This growth trajectory shows no signs of slowing down and the complexity of tests and services is set to continue.