Reaching the unreachable: How Point of Care Testing is transforming infectious disease research in hard-to-reach locations

When designing a clinical protocol for infectious disease research, geography can quickly become one of your biggest challenges. The populations most affected by life-threatening conditions such as malaria, Ebola and Zika are often located in regions where centralised laboratory infrastructure is limited, supply chains are complex and participant access is difficult. So how do you maintain the rigour and data quality your study demands, while reaching the patients who need it most?

Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices are increasingly proving to be one of the most powerful tools available to clinical research professionals operating in these environments — and at Woodley Trial Solutions, we have the expertise, equipment and global logistics capability to make it work.

The challenge of infectious disease research in resource-limited settings

Clinical trials investigating infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and other hard-to-reach regions face a unique combination of operational hurdles: limited healthcare infrastructure, unreliable connectivity, complex import regulations and the practical difficulties of recruiting and retaining participants in geographically isolated communities.

Traditionally, these studies have relied on centralised laboratories — an approach that simply isn't feasible in many of the locations where the disease burden is greatest. Waiting days for lab results not only slows a study down; it can directly compromise patient safety monitoring and inflate screen failure rates, adding cost and delay at every stage of the trial.

POCT: Faster decisions, lower screen failure rates

Point of Care Testing puts diagnostic capability directly in the hands of site staff, delivering patient results in minutes rather than days. In infectious disease studies, where patient condition can change rapidly, this speed is invaluable — enabling clinical teams to quickly assess whether a patient meets eligibility criteria and is suitable for the study.

From a protocol design perspective, this translates into several tangible benefits:

• Reduced screen failure rates - by assessing patient condition and suitability on the spot, rather than waiting on laboratory turnaround times that may ultimately disqualify participants.
• Improved patient safety monitoring - real-time results allow clinical teams to identify adverse reactions promptly and take immediate action.
• Faster progression to study endpoints - removing the bottleneck of centralised lab processing keeps the trial moving and reduces overall cost.
• Enhanced patient experience - less waiting and fewer return visits improve participant satisfaction and, importantly, patient retention.

A natural fit for Decentralized Clinical Trials

POCT doesn't just solve logistical problems - it actively enables a decentralized clinical trial (DCT) model. Rather than requiring participants to travel to centralised facilities for testing, POCT allows study activity to take place at or near the point of patient need. In a region like sub-Saharan Africa, where travel distances can be enormous and infrastructure is unreliable, this is transformative.

By deploying standardised, self-contained testing solutions to multiple sites simultaneously - each with consistent equipment, protocols and training - it becomes possible to run a truly decentralized study across multiple countries, generating robust, comparable data from locations that would previously have been out of reach.

This model also supports real-time data transmission back to the trial sponsor, enabling oversight and data quality management without compromising the operational independence of remote sites.

Expanding patient diversity and access

One of the most significant and enduring challenges in clinical research is the underrepresentation of certain patient populations - particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries. Yet these are precisely the communities where the diseases being studied are most prevalent, and where the need for effective treatments is most acute.

POCT-enabled, decentralized research is a meaningful step towards addressing this inequity. By removing the dependency on centralised laboratory infrastructure, studies can recruit from a genuinely representative patient population - supporting greater participant diversity, improving the generalisability of clinical findings and ultimately producing evidence that reflects the populations who need these treatments most.

What to look for in a POCT supplier

Not all POCT suppliers are equipped to support the complexity of infectious disease research in hard-to-reach locations. When evaluating potential partners, your protocol will benefit from a supplier who can offer:

• Deep product knowledge. With over 200 POCT devices available, you need a team that understands which instruments are most suited to your specific study design — from haematology and clinical chemistry analysers to haemostasis, coagulation, blood gas and electrolyte testing.
• Robust global logistics. Temperature-controlled shipping, global storage depots, Importer of Record (IoR) capabilities and the experience to navigate complex customs environments — all with a track record of on-time delivery to remote and resource-limited sites.
• Comprehensive training. Online and on-site training, delivered in a way that ensures site staff feel confident and competent with the devices — including bespoke user guides tailored to your specific protocol rather than standard manufacturer documentation.
• Ongoing technical support. Responsive, expert support throughout the study — giving remote sites the same quality of service they could expect from a local supplier, regardless of where they are in the world.

Our experience in action

Woodley Trial Solutions has supported POCT-enabled research across multi-site studies spanning numerous countries, including studies conducted across several regions in Africa. We have developed bespoke decentralised laboratory solutions — integrating diagnostic devices from multiple manufacturers into seamless protocols, supporting real-time data transmission, managing complex multi-country logistics and providing tailored training and ongoing technical support throughout.

This experience — built across therapeutic areas including infectious disease, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions and many more — means we understand the operational and regulatory complexities involved, and how to solve them practically and effectively.

Is POCT the right fit for your infectious disease study?

Every study is different, and the right POCT strategy depends on your protocol, patient population, geographic reach and data requirements. Our team is ready to provide a dedicated consultation to assess whether POCT is the correct fit for your study — and to map out exactly how it could work.

Get in touch with our dedicated POCT team today.