Illustration symbolizing ease of breathing with advanced medical testing.

Breathe Easier: The Future of COPD and Asthma Management is Here!

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Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 5 min read.

"Discover how near-patient testing is revolutionizing the way we monitor and manage COPD and asthma, offering faster results and better care."


In today's fast-paced world, quick and accurate medical decisions are more important than ever. For individuals battling chronic respiratory diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, timely diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve their quality of life. Traditional lab testing methods often involve long waiting periods, which can delay crucial treatment decisions. However, a new approach known as near-patient testing (NPT) is emerging as a game-changer in respiratory care.

Near-patient testing offers the promise of rapid results, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions right at the point of care. This not only saves time but can also lead to more effective management of these chronic conditions. In the context of COPD, for instance, the peripheral blood eosinophil count has proven valuable in predicting treatment response and providing essential prognostic information during acute exacerbations. Imagine having a reliable NPT method to quickly assess eosinophil levels – it could revolutionize how we approach COPD and asthma management.

This article explores the potential of NPT, specifically focusing on the HemoCue® WBC Diff System, as a reliable and efficient tool for measuring blood eosinophil counts. We delve into a study that compares this NPT method with standard laboratory analysis in healthy, asthmatic, and COPD subjects, highlighting its accuracy and potential to transform the speed and effectiveness of airway disease treatment.

What is Near-Patient Testing and Why Does It Matter?

Illustration symbolizing ease of breathing with advanced medical testing.

Near-patient testing (NPT) is a diagnostic approach that brings testing directly to the patient's location, whether it's a clinic, bedside, or even their home. Unlike traditional lab testing, which requires sending samples to a centralized laboratory and waiting for results, NPT devices provide rapid, on-the-spot analysis. This speed is particularly crucial in managing chronic conditions like COPD and asthma, where timely interventions can significantly impact patient outcomes.

In respiratory medicine, several NPT methods are already in use, such as oxygen saturation probes, peak flow meters, exhaled nitric oxide measurements, and spirometers. However, these tools have limitations in identifying specific treatment responses. For instance, while peak flow readings can confirm occupational asthma history or indicate worsening conditions after an acute exacerbation, they don't provide insights into the underlying inflammatory state or treatable traits in the airways. This is where measuring peripheral blood eosinophil counts becomes essential.

  • Faster Results: NPT provides results within minutes, allowing for quicker treatment decisions.
  • Improved Convenience: Testing can be performed at the point of care, reducing the need for lab visits.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: NPT can reduce the overall cost of healthcare by minimizing delays and optimizing treatment strategies.
  • Better Patient Outcomes: Timely interventions based on rapid results can lead to improved management of chronic conditions.
The peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) has emerged as a valuable marker in determining corticosteroid response in airway diseases. Exhaled nitric oxide serves as a surrogate for eosinophilic airway inflammation but can be influenced by smoking, making PBEC a more reliable measure. The HemoCue® WBC Diff System offers a portable NPT solution, delivering a 5-point differential full blood count within just 2 minutes from a single drop of blood. This technology has the potential to significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of diagnostic processes.

The Future of Respiratory Care

The integration of near-patient testing into routine clinical practice holds significant promise for improving the management of COPD and asthma. By providing rapid and reliable measurements of key biomarkers like eosinophil counts, NPT enables healthcare providers to make more informed treatment decisions, leading to better patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system. As technology advances, we can expect even more innovative NPT solutions to emerge, further transforming the landscape of respiratory care.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is near-patient testing, and how does it differ from traditional lab testing?

Near-patient testing (NPT) is a diagnostic approach that brings medical testing directly to the patient's location, like a clinic or even their home. This is different from traditional lab testing, where samples are sent to a central lab and you have to wait for the results. The speed of NPT is very important, especially for managing chronic conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, because quicker treatment decisions can significantly improve patient outcomes. Other NPT methods include oxygen saturation probes, peak flow meters, exhaled nitric oxide measurements and spirometers.

2

Why is it so important to measure peripheral blood eosinophil counts when managing respiratory conditions?

Measuring peripheral blood eosinophil count is essential because it helps determine how a patient with airway disease will respond to corticosteroids. While exhaled nitric oxide can indicate eosinophilic airway inflammation, its reliability can be affected by smoking. Peripheral blood eosinophil count gives doctors more reliable information for making treatment decisions. The HemoCue® WBC Diff System can deliver a 5-point differential full blood count in just 2 minutes from a single drop of blood.

3

What are the main benefits of using near-patient testing, especially for chronic conditions?

Near-patient testing provides results very quickly, usually within minutes, which allows doctors to make faster treatment decisions. It is also more convenient because testing can be done right at the point of care, reducing the need for trips to the lab. By reducing delays and improving treatment strategies, near-patient testing can reduce the overall cost of healthcare. This also leads to better outcomes for patients because timely interventions can improve the management of chronic conditions.

4

Why is the HemoCue® WBC Diff System considered a significant advancement in respiratory care?

The HemoCue® WBC Diff System is important because it offers a portable near-patient testing solution that can deliver a 5-point differential full blood count in just 2 minutes from a single drop of blood. This technology can significantly speed up and improve the accuracy of diagnostic processes, allowing doctors to make quicker and more informed treatment decisions. By providing rapid and reliable measurements of key biomarkers like eosinophil counts, the HemoCue® WBC Diff System enables healthcare providers to make more informed treatment decisions, leading to better patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system.

5

What impact is near-patient testing expected to have on the future of managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma?

The integration of near-patient testing into routine clinical practice has the potential to greatly improve the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma. Near-patient testing allows healthcare providers to make more informed treatment decisions, leading to better patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system. As technology continues to advance, we can anticipate the development of even more innovative near-patient testing solutions, further transforming the landscape of respiratory care.

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