How Genalyte Is Turning Same-Visit Diagnostics Into Lifesaving Decisions
Patient Stories: How MedTech Innovator alumni are transforming lives
At MedTech Innovator we empower healthtech companies to bring groundbreaking solutions to patients in need. Our Patient Stories series highlights the real-world clinical impact of the companies we support—showcasing how their technologies are transforming patient care, improving outcomes, and advancing healthcare. Genalyte was a participant in the 2025 MedTech Innovator cohort.
Nearly 70% of medical decisions depend on laboratory tests, yet most outpatient lab work still requires patients to leave the clinic, travel to a separate draw station, and wait days for results, then wait again for provider interpretation. These delays create critical gaps in care:
25% of patients never complete their labs, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses
Central laboratory turnaround times average 2 to 3 days, postponing treatment decisions
5% of outpatient samples sent to central labs contain errors that can alter diagnoses or cause serious harm
For conditions such as diabetes, sepsis, electrolyte imbalance, and anemia, delays of even a few hours can dramatically increase risk. Timely diagnostics are not a convenience, they are often the difference between early intervention and life threatening escalation.
Genalyte’s point of care platform, The Merlin, brings comprehensive chemistry, hematology, and immunoassay testing directly into the clinic, delivering actionable results in under 30 minutes. This enables same-visit diagnosis and treatment, closing gaps in care that routinely exist in traditional outpatient workflows.
A Routine Visit That Wasn’t
A 74 year old man with no significant medical history came in to see his primary care provider in Texas reporting general malaise and fatigue. He thought he might be coming down with a mild cold or flu and was hoping for antibiotics. Otherwise, he appeared well and showed no obvious signs of concern. In fact, he even mentioned he was planning to play golf later that day. The physical exam revealed no obvious red flags that would typically justify urgent escalation of care.
As part of a Genalyte point of care study in Texas, the clinic had onsite access to rapid chemistry, hematology, and immunoassay testing using The Merlin platform. During the same visit, the care team performed a complete blood count. The results revealed an elevated white blood cell count which, combined with the patient’s symptoms, raised immediate concern for early sepsis, a condition in which every hour of delayed treatment can increase mortality by up to 8%.
Because results were delivered within minutes, the clinician was able to immediately triage the patient to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The patient received IV antibiotics and appropriate care without delay.
“Genalyte helped me triage a case to the hospital at the point of service in our office. Accuracy and patient care are top priorities, and Genalyte most definitely delivered.”
-Physician Assistant, Texas
From Delay to Decision: The Impact of Same-Visit Diagnostics
The patient was treated promptly for early sepsis, preventing clinical deterioration. Hospital providers confirmed that delayed treatment could have resulted in intensive care admission or life threatening complications. Without same-visit lab results, the patient would likely have been sent home with oral antibiotics, or no treatment at all, while sepsis continued to progress unnoticed.
Same-visit diagnosis helped avoid an estimated 90,000 to 200,000 dollars in downstream sepsis related costs. Early intervention prevented a far more severe emergency hospitalization and potential ICU admission, reducing both financial burden and strain on the healthcare system.
In a separate multi-site evaluation involving 205 patients who self-reported as healthy, same visit testing with The Merlin uncovered multiple individuals with critically elevated glucose levels ranging from 400 to 550 mg per dL, values consistent with severe hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. Because results were available immediately, clinicians were alerted in real time and directed patients to urgent or emergency care during the same visit. These findings highlight how frequently dangerous conditions go undetected when lab testing is delayed or conducted off site.
About Genalyte
Genalyte is transforming diagnostic care by bringing high quality laboratory testing directly to the point of care. Its flagship platform, The Merlin, delivers rapid chemistry, hematology, and immunoassay results in under 30 minutes, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions during the patient visit.
By eliminating delays, reducing errors, and closing gaps in outpatient diagnostics, Genalyte empowers providers to identify serious conditions earlier, intervene faster, and improve outcomes when time matters most.
