Smartphone-based technology boosts detection of kidney diseases in recent findings
In a groundbreaking development, a new home kidney test called Minuteful Kidney has shown promising results in enhancing chronic kidney disease (CKD) screenings and improving patient outcomes. The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85 Scientific Sessions on June 20, 2025.
The Minuteful Kidney test, an FDA-cleared smartphone-enabled home urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) test for CKD, was trialled on 4,000 patients from Geisinger with diabetes and/or hypertension. These conditions are major risk factors for kidney disease.
The study, a collaboration between Healthy.io, Geisinger Health, and Boehringer Ingelheim, aimed to address the urgent need for enhanced CKD screenings due to limited awareness and access, which often contribute to poorer outcomes.
The pilot program demonstrated increased rates of engagement, testing, and follow-up care. Over a 270-day follow-up period, patients in the pilot group were more likely to receive a diagnosis related to CKD or proteinuria than those in the usual care arm.
Patients in the pilot group received Healthy.io's Minuteful Kidney smartphone-powered uACR home test, and participants received education via the Healthy.io engagement team. The convenience of testing at home coupled with smartphone-based technology facilitated better patient outreach and enabled earlier identification of CKD.
Alexander Chang, M.D., MS, Associate Professor from the Department of Population Health Sciences at Geisinger, stated that uACR testing is critical for evaluating kidney health and risk of cardiovascular events.
Brian DiDonato, Senior Vice President at Boehringer Ingelheim, highlighted the importance of detecting CKD early to mitigate disease progression and cardiovascular complications. Dr. Chang expressed excitement about the potential for the Minuteful Kidney program to drive earlier diagnosis rates and positively impact patients' lives.
Geoff Martin, CEO of Healthy.io, stated that smartphone-enabled testing and education can enhance CKD screening compliance. The use of the smartphone-powered uACR home test resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in screening completion, with 53.1% of patients completing screening compared to only 21.2% in the standard care group.
Participants using the Minuteful Kidney test had higher rates of CKD/proteinuria diagnosis (4.7% vs. 2.9%) and were more likely to have follow-up visits with primary care or nephrology providers, improving disease monitoring and management.
Moreover, patients with elevated uACR identified through the home test were more likely to receive new prescriptions for kidney-protective medications, such as ACE inhibitors/ARBs and SGLT2 inhibitors, which can slow CKD progression and improve outcomes.
This evidence demonstrates that integrating smartphone-powered home testing like Healthy.io’s Minuteful Kidney into routine CKD screening protocols can lead to meaningful improvements in early detection, follow-up care, and treatment initiation, which are critical steps to positively influence long-term patient outcomes in CKD management.
[1] Healthy.io, Geisinger, and Boehringer Ingelheim. (2025). Longitudinal impact of Healthy.io’s Minuteful Kidney smartphone-powered urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) home test on chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening and patient outcomes. Retrieved from https://www.healthy.io/ckd-pilot-study/
- The collaboration between Healthy.io, Geisinger Health, and Boehringer Ingelheim has introduced a significant advancement in digital health, introducing the Minuteful Kidney smartphone-enabled home urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) test for chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- This study, focusing on medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which are major risk factors for CKD, has emphasized the importance of medical plastics in healthcare, specifically the smartphone casings and components essential for the functioning of the Minuteful Kidney test.
- The Minuteful Kidney program, backed by science, demonstrates the potential to revolutionize health and wellness, early detecting chronic diseases like CKD and improving patient outcomes by initiating appropriate treatments and effectively managing chronic-kidney-disease conditions.
