The Future of Point-of-Care Diagnostics: Adding Sustainability by Design

Why Diagnostic Speed No Longer Tells the Whole Story

Point-of-care diagnostics have reshaped modern healthcare. Rapid tests enable faster clinical decisions, decentralised care, and broader access to diagnostics across hospitals, clinics, and community settings. Over the past two decades, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, single-use diagnostic devices such as lateral flow assays have moved from niche tools to essential infrastructure. Today, more than 10 billion lateral flow tests are produced globally each year. 

Speed, reliability, and scalability shaped the success of point-of-care diagnostics. Sustainability rarely entered the equation. That gap is now impossible to ignore. As healthcare systems face growing pressure to reduce waste and carbon emissions, diagnostic devices are coming under the same scrutiny as other medical technologies. What was once peripheral is now part of mainstream procurement decision-making. 

Why Single-Use Plastic Diagnostics are Under Scrutiny

A single rapid test weighs only around 10 grams of plastic. At global scale, those grams add up quickly. Billions of point-of-care tests are produced annually, generating tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic diagnostic waste. Most diagnostic housings are manufactured from fossil-based plastics that persist in the environment for centuries and fragment into microplastics rather than disappearing. 

Recycling offers little relief. Used diagnostics are typically classified as medical waste, while unused or expired tests are difficult to recycle due to mixed materials, contamination risk, and limited infrastructure. Incineration and landfill remain the default disposal routes in most regions. 

For years, this reality sat outside procurement discussions. Diagnostics were evaluated on performance, regulatory status, supply security, and price. Environmental impact rarely entered the conversation. That is now changing. 

Sustainability is Reshaping Diagnostic Procurement

Hospitals are under growing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. Climate commitments, carbon reporting, and sustainability targets are now tied to governance, funding, and public accountability. 

As a result, procurement criteria are evolving. Hospital tenders increasingly reference carbon footprint, material selection, and reductions in single-use plastics. While diagnostic accuracy and patient safety remain non-negotiable, sustainability in diagnostics has entered the conversation as a differentiating factor. 

This shift matters. It means IVD companies are no longer competing solely on analytical performance and cost. They are also being evaluated on how their products align with healthcare providers’ sustainability strategies. In this context, the absence of credible sustainable alternatives is becoming a disadvantage.

Why Diagnostic Devices Have Been Slow to Adapt

The slow pace of change in diagnostics is not due to lack of intent. It reflects the realities of a highly regulated, high-stakes industry. 

Plastic housings perform critical functions. They protect sensitive components, ensure consistent fluid flow, and enable reliable interpretation of results. Reuse is rarely compatible with infection control requirements. Recycling is often impractical. At the same time, regulatory frameworks make even small material changes costly and time-consuming to validate. 

Under these constraints, sustainability has often been treated as something to address later. But later is arriving faster than expected.

How Biodegradable Plastics are Meeting Point-of-Care Performance Needs

Recent advances in materials science are changing what is possible. Plant-based and biodegradable polymers can now meet the mechanical and manufacturing requirements of point-of-care diagnostic devices. Importantly, many are compatible with existing injection moulding processes, enabling production at scale without reinventing manufacturing lines. 

What matters is evidence. Sustainability in medical devices cannot rely on assumptions or laboratory simulations alone. Real-world environmental behaviour depends on climate, disposal pathways, and regional conditions. Without validation, sustainability claims create uncertainty rather than confidence. 

Field-based studies published in Frontiers demonstrate a clear distinction between conventional plastic housings, which remain unchanged in the environment, and plant-based alternatives, which actively interact with their surroundings over time. These results confirm that reducing plastic persistence in diagnostics is achievable today – provided it is done responsibly. 

What Sustainable Diagnostics Mean for Hospitals 

For hospitals, diagnostic sustainability is becoming a practical operational issue. Waste volumes are rising. Sustainability reporting is becoming more detailed. Procurement teams are increasingly expected to align purchasing decisions with institutional climate commitments without compromising diagnostic performance. 

Sustainable diagnostic hardware offers a way to reduce environmental impact without changing workflows or care pathways. When reliability and regulatory compliance are maintained, material choice becomes a meaningful lever rather than a risk. As tenders evolve, hospitals are increasingly favouring suppliers that can demonstrate both diagnostic quality and environmental responsibility.

What Sustainability Means for IVD Companies

For IVD manufacturers, sustainability has moved from a future-facing topic to a near-term strategic priority. Companies that delay engagement risk being caught unprepared as procurement expectations evolve. Those that act early gain flexibility, credibility, and first-mover advantage. 

Experience from other industries shows that customers are often willing to pay a sustainability premium, creating a tangible return on investment. For diagnostics companies, this opens the door to differentiation as environmental criteria become embedded in tender frameworks. 

Crucially, sustainability does not require redesigning assays or compromising analytical performance. Practical solutions already exist that integrate into current product architectures and manufacturing processes. The challenge is removing uncertainty and friction. 

Why Eco-Design Must Support Diagnostic Innovation

Innovation in diagnostics already faces tight timelines, regulatory complexity, and high performance expectations. Sustainability should not add another layer of uncertainty. 

When sustainable alternatives are validated early and integrated pragmatically, they support progress rather than restrict it. They allow IVD companies to move forward with confidence and help hospitals meet environmental goals without sacrificing care quality.

Sustainable Point-of-Care Diagnostics are Ready Today

The push for sustainable healthcare is no longer theoretical. It is shaping tenders, influencing purchasing decisions, and redefining expectations across the diagnostics value chain. Hospitals are asking new questions. Procurement teams are adjusting criteria. Manufacturers are being pushed to respond. 

Sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic diagnostic housings already exist. They are being tested, validated, and deployed. The remaining question is how quickly adoption will scale, and who will lead that transition.

Why Sustainability is Becoming a Core Diagnostic Requirement

Point-of-care diagnostics will continue to prioritise speed, accuracy, and accessibility. Sustainability will not replace these requirements, but it is now joining them. As expectations rise and procurement processes evolve, sustainable diagnostic hardware is moving from optional to expected. 

Reducing the environmental impact of diagnostics will require collaboration across manufacturers, hospitals, and regulators. No single organisation will solve the problem alone. But the direction is clear: diagnostic plastic waste is visible, sustainability is now a procurement concern, and practical solutions are available. 

Adding sustainability is no longer about future ambition. It is about enabling progress today. 

Disclaimer. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Test Labs Limited. The content provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or professional advice. Test Labs assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of this article, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.