Remote videolink observation of model home sampling and home testing devices to simplify usability studies for point-of-care diagnostics

Both home sample collection and home testing using rapid point-of-care diagnostic devices can offer benefits over attending a clinic/hospital to be tested by a healthcare professional. Usability is critical to ensure that in-home sampling or testing by untrained users does not compromise analytical performance. Usability studies can be laborious and rely on participants attending a research location or a researcher visiting homes; neither has been appropriate during COVID-19 outbreak control restrictions. We therefore developed a remote research usability methodology using videolink observation of home users. This avoids infection risks from home visits and ensures the participant follows the test protocol in their home environment. In this feasibility study, volunteers were provided with models of home blood testing and home blood sampling kits including a model lancet, sampling devices for dried blood spot collection, and model lateral flow device. After refining the study protocol through an initial pilot ( n = 7 ), we compared instructions provided either as written instructions ( n = 5) , vs addition of video instructions ( n = 5 ) , vs written and video instructions plus videolink supervision by the researcher ( n = 5 ). All users were observed via video call to define which test elements could be assessed remotely. All 22 participants in the study accessed the video call and configured their videolink allowing the researcher to clearly observe all testing tasks. The video call allowed the researcher to assess distinct errors during use including quantitative (volume of blood) and qualitative (inaccurate interpretation of results) errors many of which could compromise test accuracy. All participants completed the tasks and returned images of their completed tests (22/22) and most returned completed questionnaires (20/22). We suggest this remote observation via videolink methodology is a simple, rapid and powerful methodology to assess and optimise usability of point-of-care testing methods in the home setting.