Futuristic medical setting with a person breathing freely, surrounded by eosinophil particles and a HemoCue device.

Breathe Easy: The Future of COPD and Asthma Management is Here

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"New near-patient testing (NPT) technologies promise faster, more convenient eosinophil counts for managing respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, potentially revolutionizing treatment decisions."

In the fast-paced world of modern medicine, time is of the essence. For individuals managing chronic respiratory conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, delays in diagnosis and treatment can significantly impact their quality of life. Near-patient testing (NPT) is emerging as a game-changing solution, offering rapid and convenient results that can lead to quicker, more informed clinical decisions.

Traditionally, assessing the severity and guiding the treatment of COPD and asthma exacerbations has relied on standard laboratory measurements, often requiring time-consuming venipuncture and centralized analysis. However, recent research highlights the potential of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in predicting treatment response and providing valuable prognostic information. Imagine a world where this crucial data is available within minutes, right at the point of care.

A groundbreaking study published in the International Journal of COPD explores the use of the HemoCue® WBC Diff System, a portable NPT device, for measuring peripheral blood eosinophil counts. By comparing its performance against standard laboratory methods in healthy, asthmatic, and COPD subjects, the researchers uncovered compelling evidence that could revolutionize the management of airway diseases. Let’s dive into how this technology is poised to transform respiratory care.

What is Near-Patient Testing (NPT) and Why Does it Matter for Respiratory Health?

Futuristic medical setting with a person breathing freely, surrounded by eosinophil particles and a HemoCue device.

Near-patient testing (NPT) refers to medical diagnostic tests that can be performed close to the patient, often at the bedside or in a clinic, rather than in a central laboratory. This approach offers numerous advantages, including faster turnaround times, reduced costs, and improved patient convenience. In the context of respiratory health, NPT can play a crucial role in accelerating diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, and personalizing patient care.

For conditions like COPD and asthma, where timely intervention is critical, NPT can provide clinicians with the information they need to make swift, evidence-based decisions. By measuring key biomarkers like peripheral blood eosinophil counts, NPT can help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from specific therapies, such as corticosteroids, and guide treatment strategies accordingly.

Here’s a closer look at the benefits of NPT in respiratory care:

Rapid Results: NPT delivers results within minutes, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Cost-Effective: By reducing the need for expensive laboratory tests and hospital visits, NPT can lower healthcare costs.
Convenient: NPT can be performed at the point of care, eliminating the need for patients to travel to a central laboratory.
Improved Patient Outcomes: Timely intervention based on NPT results can lead to better disease management and improved patient outcomes.

But how does the HemoCue® WBC Diff System fit into this picture? Let's explore the specifics of this innovative technology and the compelling findings of the recent study.

The Future is Now: Embracing NPT for Better Respiratory Care

The findings of this study, along with the growing body of evidence supporting the use of NPT, herald a new era in respiratory care. By embracing innovative technologies like the HemoCue® WBC Diff System, healthcare professionals can empower themselves with the tools they need to make faster, more informed decisions, ultimately improving the lives of individuals managing COPD, asthma, and other airway diseases. As research continues to unfold, we can anticipate even more sophisticated NPT solutions that will further revolutionize the landscape of respiratory medicine.

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

What is the primary advantage of using Near-Patient Testing (NPT) for conditions like COPD and asthma?

The primary advantage of using Near-Patient Testing (NPT) for conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma is the ability to obtain rapid results. This allows for faster diagnosis and treatment decisions. Unlike traditional methods that involve time-consuming venipuncture and centralized analysis, NPT, such as the HemoCue® WBC Diff System, provides results within minutes, allowing clinicians to make swift, evidence-based decisions. This timely intervention can lead to better disease management and improved patient outcomes, which is crucial for managing exacerbations and tailoring treatment strategies for both COPD and asthma patients.

How does the HemoCue® WBC Diff System contribute to the management of COPD and asthma?

The HemoCue® WBC Diff System contributes to the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma by providing quick and reliable peripheral blood eosinophil counts at the point of care. This NPT device allows healthcare professionals to assess the severity of the condition and guide treatment strategies more effectively. Measuring peripheral blood eosinophil counts helps identify patients who are more likely to benefit from specific therapies, such as corticosteroids. The rapid results enable faster diagnosis and treatment decisions, improving patient outcomes. Its portable nature eliminates the need for patients to travel to a central laboratory, making it a convenient option.

Can you explain the role of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in managing respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma?

Peripheral blood eosinophil counts play a crucial role in managing respiratory diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma by providing valuable prognostic information and predicting treatment response. These counts help clinicians understand the inflammatory state of the airways, guiding treatment decisions. Elevated eosinophil counts often indicate a patient might benefit from corticosteroid therapy. The HemoCue® WBC Diff System, a Near-Patient Testing (NPT) device, facilitates the quick measurement of these counts. By having this data available quickly, healthcare providers can tailor treatment strategies, improving disease management and patient outcomes, which is particularly important during exacerbations.

What are the main benefits of using Near-Patient Testing (NPT) in respiratory care beyond faster results?

Beyond faster results, Near-Patient Testing (NPT) offers several key benefits in respiratory care. These include cost-effectiveness due to a reduction in expensive laboratory tests and hospital visits, improved patient convenience as NPT can be performed at the point of care, and the potential for improved patient outcomes. For conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, timely intervention based on NPT results, such as those obtained from the HemoCue® WBC Diff System, can lead to better disease management. This is because it allows for quicker diagnosis and tailored treatment plans, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for patients with airway diseases.

How might the HemoCue® WBC Diff System and other NPT technologies change the future of respiratory medicine for individuals with COPD and asthma?

The HemoCue® WBC Diff System and other Near-Patient Testing (NPT) technologies are poised to revolutionize the future of respiratory medicine for individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma by offering faster, more convenient, and more informed clinical decisions. By providing rapid eosinophil counts and other critical biomarkers at the point of care, these technologies enable healthcare professionals to make quicker diagnoses and tailor treatment plans more effectively. This shift allows for timely intervention, which is crucial for managing exacerbations and improving patient outcomes. As research continues, NPT solutions will become even more sophisticated, transforming how airway diseases are managed, ultimately leading to improved quality of life for patients.