Less invasive transcatheter techniques will increasingly displace older, riskier open-heart procedures in the treatment of heart valve disease, according to a new Meddevicetracker report. By 2021, transcatheter systems will account for 76% of the global market for heart valve disease treatment products, with the US retaining its current dominant position in this sector.

Diagnostic testing is increasingly moving from centralized laboratories into pharmacies, physicians' offices, hospitals and directly to consumers as part of the transition to value-based care with its focus on providing quality care at a lower cost. Point-of-care testing (POCT) – and what it means for the future of health-care delivery, health-care providers and creators of innovative technologies joining forces to satisfy consumers' growing appetite for convenient and rapid testing – took centerstage at the recent AACC Annual Meeting in San Diego. This feature takes a closer look at the increasing migration of POCT into the retail arena, specifically pharmacies, to support primary-care providers, along with its challenges. It also highlights emerging trends and technologies, including presentations of the "Star Trek-like" innovations from the Qualcomm Tricorder XPrize competition winners that are bound to disrupt the landscape of direct-to-consumer testing. We also provide expert opinions of the pros and cons of bringing POC services closer to consumers.