Illustration of a modern blood test machine providing fast results for respiratory conditions, with a doctor examining the results.

Revolutionizing Respiratory Care: How a Simple Blood Test Is Changing the Game for Asthma and COPD

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 5 min read.

"Unlocking Insights: Discover how a new blood test is providing rapid and accurate results for asthma and COPD, leading to better treatment and improved patient outcomes."

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the most prevalent respiratory conditions globally, affecting millions and significantly impacting quality of life. Managing these conditions effectively requires accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment. Traditional methods, often involving complex laboratory tests, can be time-consuming, delaying crucial care decisions. However, a new approach is emerging that promises to transform the landscape of respiratory care.

The concept of near-patient testing (NPT) has gained traction, offering rapid results and facilitating quicker clinical decisions. This is particularly beneficial in respiratory medicine, where immediate insights can significantly influence treatment strategies. The peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) has been identified as a key indicator in both asthma and COPD, helping to guide treatment and predict patient response.

This article dives into a recent study that compared a novel NPT method, the HemoCue® WBC Diff System, with standard laboratory analysis. The study aimed to assess the accuracy and reliability of this new system in measuring PBEC in individuals with asthma, COPD, and healthy individuals. The findings suggest a paradigm shift in how these conditions are managed, potentially leading to more efficient and personalized care.

The Game-Changing Blood Test: How It Works and Why It Matters

Illustration of a modern blood test machine providing fast results for respiratory conditions, with a doctor examining the results.

The HemoCue® WBC Diff System utilizes a simple skin prick to collect a small blood sample, offering results in just a few minutes. This contrasts with the traditional method, which requires a venipuncture and analysis in a central laboratory. The study compared the results from the HemoCue system with those from standard automated laboratory measurements, assessing its effectiveness in providing accurate PBEC readings. The study's results reveal a close correlation between the two methods, irrespective of the patient's health status. This level of accuracy opens doors to rapid and reliable point-of-care testing in respiratory medicine.

The significance of this new testing method lies in its potential to transform how asthma and COPD are managed. PBEC is a critical biomarker, particularly in determining the appropriate use of corticosteroids, a common treatment for these conditions. Rapid access to PBEC results enables clinicians to quickly assess inflammation levels, tailor treatment plans, and monitor patient responses more effectively. This rapid testing method could lead to better patient outcomes.

Faster Diagnosis: Immediate results enable quicker assessment and intervention.
Personalized Treatment: PBEC helps tailor treatment to individual patient needs.
Reduced Wait Times: Eliminates the need for sending samples to a lab, saving time.
Improved Patient Outcomes: Quicker access to results can lead to more effective treatment strategies.
Ease of Use: The test is easy to perform, requiring only a small blood sample.

The study’s findings highlight the potential of NPT in respiratory medicine. It suggests that healthcare providers could use the HemoCue® WBC Diff System to measure eosinophil counts rapidly. This could significantly influence the speed of management decisions, leading to better outcomes for patients with asthma and COPD. The use of NPT not only speeds up the diagnostic process but also empowers healthcare professionals to make more informed decisions, thereby enhancing patient care.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Respiratory Care

The introduction of the HemoCue® WBC Diff System marks a significant step forward in managing respiratory conditions. By providing quick and accurate results, this technology empowers healthcare providers to make faster and more effective treatment decisions. As NPT continues to evolve, it promises to further streamline healthcare processes, ultimately improving the lives of those living with asthma and COPD. The results of the study suggest that this NPT can be used to measure eosinophil counts in patients with asthma and COPD, which can lead to more effective treatment strategies.

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.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2147/copd.s147216, Alternate LINK

Title: Comparison Of The Peripheral Blood Eosinophil Count Using Near-Patient Testing And Standard Automated Laboratory Measurement In Healthy, Asthmatic And Copd Subjects

Subject: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Journal: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Kirsty Hambleton, Clare Connolly, Catherine Borg, Joanne Davies, Helen Jeffers, Richard Russell, Mona Bafadhel

Published: 2017-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the significance of the peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) in managing asthma and COPD?

The peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) is a key indicator in managing both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It helps guide treatment decisions and predict patient response, particularly in determining the appropriate use of corticosteroids. Rapid access to PBEC results enables clinicians to quickly assess inflammation levels, tailor treatment plans, and monitor patient responses more effectively. Currently, monitoring blood gas levels in these patients requires additional testing that PBEC alone does not deliver.

How does the HemoCue® WBC Diff System improve the management of respiratory conditions compared to traditional methods?

The HemoCue® WBC Diff System improves the management of respiratory conditions by providing rapid peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) results from a small blood sample obtained through a skin prick in just a few minutes. This contrasts with traditional methods that require venipuncture and analysis in a central laboratory, which can be time-consuming. The speed and ease of use of the HemoCue® WBC Diff System lead to faster diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, reduced wait times, and improved patient outcomes. However, this system focuses solely on PBEC, and it does not replace the need for comprehensive pulmonary function tests or imaging studies.

What are the potential benefits of using near-patient testing (NPT) like the HemoCue® WBC Diff System in respiratory care?

Near-patient testing (NPT) with systems like the HemoCue® WBC Diff System offers several benefits in respiratory care, including faster diagnoses, personalized treatment based on PBEC levels, reduced wait times by eliminating the need to send samples to a central lab, improved patient outcomes through quicker and more effective treatment strategies, and ease of use. By providing rapid PBEC results, NPT empowers healthcare providers to make quicker and more informed decisions, enhancing patient care for asthma and COPD. However, NPT does not eliminate the need for a clinician's expertise and judgment in interpreting the results within the broader clinical context.

How accurate is the HemoCue® WBC Diff System compared to standard laboratory analysis for measuring PBEC?

The study showed a close correlation between the HemoCue® WBC Diff System and standard automated laboratory measurements in measuring peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC), irrespective of the patient's health status. This level of accuracy supports the use of the HemoCue® WBC Diff System for rapid and reliable point-of-care testing in respiratory medicine. Further studies are needed to assess the system's accuracy across diverse patient populations and clinical settings, including its performance in patients with rare eosinophil disorders.

What are the long-term implications of adopting the HemoCue® WBC Diff System for managing asthma and COPD, and what future advancements can we expect in respiratory care?

Adopting the HemoCue® WBC Diff System could lead to more efficient and personalized care for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients by enabling quicker and more effective treatment decisions based on rapid PBEC results. This can translate to improved patient outcomes and a streamlined healthcare process. Future advancements may include further development of NPT technologies that can measure a broader range of biomarkers beyond just peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC), integration of NPT results with electronic health records (EHRs) for seamless data management, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze NPT data and provide clinical decision support. This could lead to even more precise and proactive management of respiratory conditions. It is important to note that cost-effectiveness and accessibility of such technologies will need to be addressed to ensure widespread adoption and equitable access to care.