Over 2 billion rapid test (lateral flow assay) kits are produced every year, adding tens of thousands of tons of used materials to the growing global volume of medical waste. Every test kit contains around 12 grams of plastic and is designed for single use. The company Okos Diagnostics, founded in 2022, aims to reduce the waste with a sustainable rapid test solution. Okos combines human and environmental health.
Interview with Sander Brus, CEO of Okos.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Sander Brus: Okos focuses on biomaterial solutions for the medical industry.
We aim to make environmental cassettes the standard for the industry. We want to collaborate with lots of IVD companies and add this sustainable twist to their products. The lateral flow assay market is expected to grow into a 27-billion-dollar market in 3 years, so there is a lot of potential for new products in emerging markets (tumor markers, hormones, infectious diseases).
In addition, we aim to replace other single-use plastic components of a test kit, for example nasal swabs. We already conducted a trial in which we replaced the plastic stick with bio-based materials. Step by step, we want to demonstrate that sustainability can be achieved by small, but smart innovations.
What’s the news about new products/services?
S.B: Recently we introduced world’s first biodegradable combo test to the market: ecoFluorecare. The material of this product mainly consists of agricultural rest products and complies with composability standards (ASTM D6400 & EN12432).
So far, the response of ecoFluorecare has been astonishing. We are so happy to notice that a lot of people in the medical industry, who are passionate about point of care testing, are at the same time so fed up with all the waste it generates. Therefore, they are enthusiastic about innovative solutions like ecoFluorecare.
What are the ranges of products/services?
S.B: We deliver eco-frienldy cassettes to the IVD industry. Our goal is to make a green impact and to make sustainability a hot topic in this conservative sector.
What can you tell us about market trends?
S.B: Both the IVD sector and the biomaterial market are in an upwards trend.
To combat the plastic pollution problem, the demand for biomaterials is growing. Also, more options of biomaterials are becoming available. Okos is in the niche of sustainability in diagnostics.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
S.B: ecoFluorecare is the most innovative product of the company.
What estimations do you have for 2024?
S.B: This year we expect more collaborations with the IVD sector and NGO’s. Also, we are planning to branch out our catalogue and replace other single-use products in the medical sector.
We want to focus more on developing countries. Since there is often a lack of central lab testing and a bigger presence of infectious diseases, it is a crucial market for point-of-care testing.