Korean startup QSTAG’s self-health care monitoring formula makes disease prediction easy and affordable

Korean startup QSTAG’s next-generation diagnostic sensor smart strip offers reliable, accurate and easy data for disease detection. One can test for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, gout, kidney diseases, urinary tract diseases, colitis, hyperthyroidism, etc. and get accurate results in a short span of time.

Clinically, biomarkers are used extensively worldwide to diagnose several diseases. However, the current POCT (Point of Care Testing) kits available have low sensitivity and therefore, the results are often unreliable.

Sensor Analysis Technology at work

Founded in 2016, QSTAG addresses the issue of low-sensitivity POCTs by offering a unique technology for high sensitivity biosensors with datafication. It enables checking of the results intuitively with electrochromic display and transmits the results automatically to the smartphone or central server to enable big data construction. The single, smart chip can be analyzed with your smartphone, thanks to QSTag’s sensor analysis technology.

The team, headed by Donghoon Lee, consists of experts in electrical engineering, nanoengineering and biology backgrounds and has an advantage for convergence research for varied sensor development. Samples such as blood, urine, and saliva can be loaded on a specimen slot, which can be connected to a smartphone. The QR code immediately displays the results on the phone.

Product-line & future endeavours
QSTAG offers two products: The QS Check- UIS is used for the detection of abnormal signs in the body. The Smart Urine Test Kit is used to test glucose, blood, protein, Ph balance, etc. The strips use a QR code-based application with automatically readable field diagnostic kits. The QS-Check+ is used for early diagnosis and management of the disease. A Smart POCT test kit with an electrochemical-based disposable kit, it is used to test for specific protein such as CRP, Nephrin and Viruses. The strips cost under $5, making them affordable for one and all.

There is a QS Reader that can be used on a smartphone to read the diagnostic kits for comprehensive digital healthcare. The QS Reader can check the general condition of the user through urinalysis, which is accumulated as statistical data and can be used for all future medical treatment and diagnosis. Both QS Check UIS and QS Reader are ready for launch this year, while QS Check+ will be launched by 2021.

The company plans to achieve 100,000 subscribers this year by strategic marketing and affiliation with companies. It plans to reach out to customers through reseller sales (B2B) as well as online sales (B2C).

Currently, KFDA medical device certification is completed in South Korea and officially launched
in the South Korean market in June. After completing the CE certification by the first half of next year, the startup wants to progress to promote overseas expansion.

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