Latest news with #Theranos'
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
A few drops of blood, saliva or urine can help detect illnesses
In the 2000s, biotech company Theranos promised to revolutionise blood testing. Founder Elizabeth Holmes claimed Theranos technology could perform hundreds of tests using just a finger-prick drop of blood. If true, their diagnostics would be faster, cheaper and more accessible. Theranos raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors and was valued at more than $nine billion in 2015. However, the technology never worked, leading to one of the biggest scandals in biotech history. Theranos was secretly using traditional machines to run many tests, then claiming the results came from its own (non-functional) device. Holmes was eventually convicted of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Today, a new startup, Haemanthus, claims to have developed a similar technology. Co-founded by Billy Evans (Holmes' partner), this new company says it can detect and diagnose illnesses using tiny amounts of blood, urine, or even saliva. While technology has advanced since Theranos' time, it's important to consider these claims carefully. Clinicians and lab techs can currently detect many conditions with blood, and some with urine or saliva. These are important tools in modern medicine. However, the volumes required are usually much greater than a few drops or a dab. What can blood detect? Blood circulates through all organs, transporting cells, nutrients, hormones and waste products. Blood tests collect several millilitres of blood from a vein and send this to a laboratory for analysis. Blood tests can check if a person has signs of infection or disease, to monitor organ function, or to show how a person is responding to medical treatment. Blood tests are widely used to monitor heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or deficiencies in iron or vitamins. A significant proportion of medical decisions are based on laboratory analysis of blood tests. Making them more affordable and accessible would have great benefits. What about urine? Urine is produced by the kidneys and contains waste filtered from the blood. The colour and composition of urine gives you a snapshot of any problems the body might be trying to fix. Urine analysis can detect urinary tract infections, kidney disorders, diabetes and liver diseases by measuring sugars, proteins and cells. As urine tests are non-invasive and easy to administer, they can be used to quickly screen for some conditions. However, factors such as how much you've had to drink and what you've eaten can influence urine composition, potentially affecting test results. Saliva can also be used for diagnoses Saliva is the clear, watery liquid produced by salivary glands in the mouth. It's mostly water (around 99 per cent), but also contains various substances such as hormones, antibodies, enzymes, DNA, RNA and metabolites. Saliva testing is already used in clinical settings to detect HIV antibodies, monitor levels of cortisol (a marker of stress) and to diagnose viral infections such as Covid-19. The potential of saliva as another non-invasive diagnostic tool is growing, especially as researchers identify more markers of disease that it can contain. However, saliva production varies between individuals. The composition of saliva can be impacted by what you eat and drink, the time of day, or even stress. These variations can limit how consistent and reliable saliva can be for making a diagnosis. But how much of it do you need? While diagnosing diseases using bodily fluids isn't new, Haemanthus and other startups differentiate themselves by aiming (and claiming) to need only small amounts for multiple tests: a drop of blood, a swab of saliva, or a few milliliters of urine. This would mean faster, cheaper, more convenient tests that cause less discomfort. But there are physical limitations of small samples. Many diagnostic markers (called biomarkers) are only present in very low amounts in our body fluids. When the sample amount decreases, so will biomarkers, thereby making it difficult to detect them reliably. This is particularly true for biomarkers such as hormones, cancer markers, or early-stage disease indicators. What can you detect with a few drops? Of course, some conditions can be diagnosed using small samples, but generally only one condition is tested for with each small sample, unlike the claims of companies like Theranos. Finger-prick blood samples, for example, can monitor blood glucose levels of people with diabetes. Small urine samples can detect urinary tract infections, but not all types of infections at once. The specific biomarkers for these conditions can be reliably detectable in small amounts of fluid. To diagnose more complex conditions, or even unknown conditions, multiple tests may be required, each needing different sample preparations. This requires both volume and precision – two things tests with small sample volumes struggle to deliver. What happens next? While the idea of diagnosing illnesses with small fluid samples is promising, especially for remote or resource-limited settings, the science suggests we should be cautious. Most human diseases are complicated, and we usually need comprehensive testing approaches to diagnose them. Relying only on small fluid samples could lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatments, or unnecessary interventions. Innovations in biosensor technology, machine learning algorithms and biomarker discovery continue to advance the field. And one day, fast and reliable small volume testing may be possible. However, a lot more peer-reviewed research and regulatory approvals will be essential to ensure patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. (The writers are from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
You usually need more than a few drops of blood, saliva or urine to detect illnesses. Here's why
Melbourne: In the 2000s, biotech company Theranos promised to revolutionise blood testing . Founder Elizabeth Holmes claimed Theranos technology could perform hundreds of tests using just a finger-prick drop of blood. If true, their diagnostics would be faster, cheaper and more accessible. Theranos raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors and was valued at more than USD 9 billion in 2015. However, the technology never worked, leading to one of the biggest scandals in biotech history. Theranos was secretly using traditional machines to run many tests, then claiming the results came from its own (non-functional) device. Holmes was eventually convicted of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Today, a new startup, Haemanthus, claims to have developed a similar technology. Co-founded by Billy Evans (Holmes' partner), this new company says it can detect and diagnose illnesses using tiny amounts of blood, urine, or even saliva. While technology has advanced since Theranos' time, it's important to consider these claims carefully. Clinicians and lab techs can currently detect many conditions with blood, and some with urine or saliva. These are important tools in modern medicine. However, the volumes required are usually much greater than a few drops or a dab. What can blood detect? Blood circulates through all organs, transporting cells, nutrients, hormones and waste products. Blood tests collect several millilitres of blood from a vein and send this to a laboratory for analysis. Blood tests can check if a person has signs of infection or disease, to monitor organ function, or to show how a person is responding to medical treatment. Blood tests are widely used to monitor heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or deficiencies in iron or vitamins. A significant proportion of medical decisions are based on laboratory analysis of blood tests. Making them more affordable and accessible would have great benefits. What about urine? Urine is produced by the kidneys and contains waste filtered from the blood. The colour and composition of urine gives you a snapshot of any problems the body might be trying to fix. Urine analysis can detect urinary tract infections, kidney disorders, diabetes and liver diseases by measuring sugars, proteins and cells. As urine tests are non-invasive and easy to administer, they can be used to quickly screen for some conditions. However, factors such as how much you've had to drink and what you've eaten can influence urine composition, potentially affecting test results. Saliva can also be used for diagnoses Saliva is the clear, watery liquid produced by salivary glands in the mouth. It's mostly water (around 99 per cent), but also contains various substances such as hormones, antibodies, enzymes, DNA, RNA and metabolites. Saliva testing is already used in clinical settings to detect HIV antibodies, monitor levels of cortisol (a marker of stress) and to diagnose viral infections such as COVID. The potential of saliva as another non-invasive diagnostic tool is growing, especially as researchers identify more markers of disease that it can contain. However, saliva production varies between individuals. The composition of saliva can be impacted by what you eat and drink, the time of day, or even stress. These variations can limit how consistent and reliable saliva can be for making a diagnosis. But how much of it do you need? While diagnosing diseases using bodily fluids isn't new, Haemanthus and other startups differentiate themselves by aiming (and claiming) to need only small amounts for multiple tests: a drop of blood, a swab of saliva, or a few milliliters of urine. This would mean faster, cheaper, more convenient tests that cause less discomfort. But there are physical limitations of small samples. Many diagnostic markers (called biomarkers) are only present in very low amounts in our body fluids. When the sample amount decreases, so do the amounts of the biomarkers, making it harder to detect them reliably. This is particularly true for biomarkers such as hormones, cancer markers, or early-stage disease indicators. What can you detect with a few drops? Of course, some conditions can be diagnosed using small samples, but generally only one condition is tested for with each small sample, unlike the claims of companies like Theranos. Finger-prick blood samples, for example, can monitor blood glucose levels of people with diabetes. Small urine samples can detect urinary tract infections, but not all types of infections at once. The specific biomarkers for these conditions can be reliably detectable in small amounts of fluid. To diagnose more complex conditions, or even unknown conditions, multiple tests may be required, each needing different sample preparations. This requires both volume and precision - two things tests with small sample volumes struggle to deliver. What happens next? While the idea of diagnosing illnesses with small fluid samples is promising, especially for remote or resource-limited settings, the science suggests we should be cautious. Most human diseases are complicated, and we usually need comprehensive testing approaches to diagnose them. Relying only on small fluid samples could lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatments, or unnecessary interventions. Innovations in biosensor technology, machine learning algorithms and biomarker discovery continue to advance the field. And one day, fast and reliable small volume testing may be possible. However, a lot more peer-reviewed research and regulatory approvals will be essential to ensure patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. (The Conversation)
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Every drop counts
blood testing Elizabeth Holmes Urine analysis Sarah Diepstraten In the 2000s, biotech company Theranos promised to revolutionise. Founderclaimed Theranos technology could perform hundreds of tests using just a finger-prick drop of blood. If true, their diagnostics would be faster, cheaper and more raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors and was valued at more than USD 9 billion in the technology never worked, leading to one of the biggest scandals in biotech history. Theranos was secretly using traditional machines to run many tests, then claiming the results came from its own (non-functional) device. Holmes was eventually convicted of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in a new startup, Haemanthus, claims to have developed a similar technology. Co-founded by Billy Evans (Holmes' partner), this new company says it can detect and diagnose illnesses using tiny amounts of blood, urine, or even technology has advanced since Theranos' time, it's important to consider these claims and lab techs can currently detect many conditions with blood, and some with urine or saliva. These are important tools in modern medicine. However, the volumes required are usually much greater than a few drops or a circulates through all organs, transporting cells, nutrients, hormones and waste products. Blood tests collect several millilitres of blood from a vein and send this to a laboratory for tests can check if a person has signs of infection or disease, to monitor organ function, or to show how a person is responding to medical treatment. Blood tests are widely used to monitor heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or deficiencies in iron or vitamins.A significant proportion of medical decisions are based on laboratory analysis of blood tests. Making them more affordable and accessible would have great is produced by the kidneys and contains waste filtered from the blood. The colour and composition of urine gives you a snapshot of any problems the body might be trying to detect urinary tract infections, kidney disorders, diabetes and liver diseases by measuring sugars, proteins and urine tests are non-invasive and easy to administer, they can be used to quickly screen for some factors such as how much you've had to drink and what you've eaten can influence urine composition, potentially affecting test is the clear, watery liquid produced by salivary glands in the mouth. It's mostly water (around 99 per cent), but also contains various substances such as hormones, antibodies, enzymes, DNA, RNA and testing is already used in clinical settings to detect HIV antibodies, monitor levels of cortisol (a marker of stress) and to diagnoseviral infections such as potential of saliva as another non-invasive diagnostic tool is growing, especially as researchers identify more markers of disease that it can saliva production varies between individuals. The composition of saliva can be impacted by what you eat and drink, the time of day, or even stress. These variations can limit how consistent and reliable saliva can be for making a diagnosing diseases using bodily fluids isn't new, Haemanthus and other startups differentiate themselves by aiming (and claiming) to need only small amounts for multiple tests: a drop of blood, a swab of saliva, or a few milliliters of urine. This would mean faster, cheaper, more convenient tests that cause less there are physical limitations of small samples. Many diagnostic markers (called biomarkers) are only present in very low amounts in our body the sample amount decreases, so do the amounts of the biomarkers, making it harder to detect them reliably. This is particularly true for biomarkers such as hormones, cancer markers, or early-stage disease course, some conditions can be diagnosed using small samples, but generally only one condition is tested for with each small sample, unlike the claims of companies like blood samples, for example, can monitor blood glucose levels of people with urine samples can detect urinary tract infections, but not all types of infections at specific biomarkers for these conditions can be reliably detectable in small amounts of diagnose more complex conditions, or even unknown conditions, multiple tests may be required, each needing different sample preparations. This requires both volume and precision – two things tests with small sample volumes struggle to the idea of diagnosing illnesses with small fluid samples is promising, especially for remote or resource-limited settings, the science suggests we should be human diseases are complicated, and we usually need comprehensive testing approaches to diagnose them. Relying only on small fluid samples could lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatments, or unnecessary in biosensor technology, machine learning algorithms and biomarker discovery continue to advance the field. And one day, fast and reliable small volume testing may be a lot more peer-reviewed research and regulatory approvals will be essential to ensure patient safety and diagnostic accuracy.
NDTV
11-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Fraudster Elizabeth Holmes' Partner Launches New Blood-Testing Company Similar To Theranos
Jailed Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' partner is starting a new blood-testing company. Billy Evans, who shares two children with Holmes, is attempting to raise money for the company that describes itself as "the future of diagnostics", having a "radically new approach to health testing", according to a report in The New York Times. The startup's core idea sounds similar to Theranos, where Ms Holmes duped investors by falsely claiming to have developed 'revolutionary' blood-testing methods that could use small volumes of blood, such as from a fingerprick, for multiple diagnostic examinations. Called Haemanthus, Mr Evans' startup claims to have developed a machine that uses lasers to analyse blood, saliva, and urine samples to detect cancer and infections. Unsurprisingly, the device's photo bears an uncanny resemblance to Theranos' infamous blood-testing machine, known as the Edison or miniLab. The company is planning to start with pet health before expanding to humans, and it seeks to raise more than $50 million. Despite being imprisoned, Holmes has been providing advice to her partner on the startup. James W Breyer, a well-known venture capitalist and early investor in Facebook, told the publication that he refused to put in money, having done so on two occasions with Theranos in the past. Where is Elizabeth Holmes? Holmes is currently incarcerated at the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Bryan, Texas, after being sentenced to 11 years in prison for defrauding investors in 2023. Over the course of her nearly four-month criminal trial, Holmes insisted she did not commit any crimes, despite evidence presented by the government and witness testimony suggesting otherwise. Once a Silicon Valley star, Holmes had a meteoric rise and was on the covers of business magazines that hailed her as the next Steve Jobs, owing to her similar dressing style to the Apple founder. Her deception was persuasive enough to draw in sophisticated investors like software magnate Larry Ellison, media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the Walton family behind Walmart.
The Age
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Elizabeth Holmes' partner has a new blood-testing start-up
Elizabeth Holmes is in prison for defrauding investors through her blood-testing company, Theranos. Meanwhile, her partner is starting one of his own. Billy Evans, who has two children with Holmes, is trying to raise money for a company that describes itself as 'the future of diagnostics' and 'a radically new approach to health testing,' according to marketing materials reviewed by The New York Times. If that sounds familiar, it's because Theranos similarly aimed to revolutionise diagnostic testing. The Silicon Valley start-up captured the world's attention by claiming, falsely as it turned out, to have developed a blood-testing device that could run a slew of complex lab tests from a mere finger prick. Evans' company is named Haemanthus, which is a flower also known as the blood lily. It plans to begin with testing pets for diseases before progressing to humans, according to two investors pitched on the company, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they had agreed to keep the plans secret. Evans' marketing materials, which lay out hopes to eventually raise more than $50 million, say the ultimate goal is nothing short of 'human health optimisation.' A photo provided to potential investors of the start-up's prototype bears more than a passing physical resemblance to Theranos' infamous blood-testing machine, variously known as the Edison or miniLab. The device that Evans' company is developing is a rectangular contraption with a door, a digital display screen and what the investor materials describe as tunable lasers inside. Haemanthus says its device will test blood as well as saliva and urine. The marketing documents provided with the photo say there is 'no regulatory oversight – USDA confirmed in writing'.
