Last reviewed: 20 March 2026
Audience: Patients, carers, families, and non-specialists
Topic: Point-of-care monitoring of antifungal drug levels

New bedside testing for antifungal drugs — and why patients welcome it

For many people taking antifungal medicines, blood tests are an important part of care. These tests help doctors check whether the amount of medicine in the body is too low, too high, or about right.

A new type of technology is being developed to do this much more quickly, using just a single drop of blood placed onto a specialised chip. Instead of sending blood away to a laboratory and waiting days for a result, this kind of test may be able to provide an answer much more quickly, sometimes during the clinic visit itself.

Patients in a recent focus group responded very positively to this idea. They welcomed not only the technology itself, but also what it could mean for their care: less waiting, less uncertainty, fewer trips to hospital, and more personalised treatment.

What is this new test?

This is a type of point-of-care test. That means it is designed to be used close to the patient, such as in a clinic or at the bedside, rather than sending the sample away to a central laboratory.

In this case, the aim is to measure the level of an antifungal drug in the blood from a very small sample, sometimes just a finger-prick drop. The drop of blood is placed onto a specialised chip. That chip contains tiny channels and sensors that can detect the amount of drug present.

People sometimes describe this type of system as a “lab on a chip” because it performs some of the work of a laboratory in a very small device.

How does the technology work?

The exact science varies between devices, but the general idea is similar.

1. A small blood sample is taken.
   This may be from a finger prick rather than a larger blood draw.
2. The blood is placed onto a specialised chip.
   The chip is designed to handle a tiny volume of blood.
3. The blood moves through microscopic channels.
   These channels guide the sample to the parts of the chip that do the measurement.
4. Sensors on the chip detect the antifungal drug.
   These sensors are designed to recognise the drug or react to it in a measurable way.
5. A reader produces a result.
   A connected device reads the signal from the chip and estimates the drug level.

Some systems use electrical signals, some use light, and some use chemical reactions. Patients do not need to understand all the engineering details to understand the main point: the chip is acting like a mini laboratory.

A simple way to think about it is this:

Instead of sending your blood sample to a distant laboratory, this technology brings part of the laboratory to your fingertip.

Why do antifungal drug levels matter?

Some antifungal medicines need careful monitoring because the “right” level can be quite important.

If the drug level is too low, the medicine may not work well enough. If the drug level is too high, side effects may become more likely.

This can be especially relevant for antifungal drugs such as:

• itraconazole
• voriconazole
• posaconazole

Drug levels can vary from person to person for many reasons, including:

• how well the body absorbs the medicine
• interactions with other medicines
• differences in liver function and metabolism
• changes in health over time

At present, monitoring usually involves sending blood to a laboratory. That works, but it can mean delays. Results may not come back quickly enough to guide decisions during the clinic appointment itself.

A faster bedside test could help clinicians make treatment decisions more quickly and could support more personalised care.

What did patients say about it?

In the patient focus group, this technology was widely welcomed. Patients were not only interested in the novelty of the test. They also recognised several practical benefits that could make day-to-day care easier and safer.

1. Faster results could reduce anxiety

Many patients described the stress of waiting for test results. Waiting can create a sense of uncertainty: Is the treatment working? Is the dose correct? Are side effects more likely?

A test that gives much quicker results was seen as reassuring. Instead of waiting days, patients liked the idea of getting answers much sooner, possibly while still in clinic.

2. Fewer visits could reduce the burden of care

For many people with chronic lung conditions or long-term illness, going to hospital is not a small task. Travel, parking, breathlessness, fatigue, mobility problems, and long waits can make even a short appointment exhausting.

Patients felt that a faster and simpler test could reduce some of this burden, especially if it could be built into a normal appointment or eventually be offered closer to home.

3. More personalised dosing felt important

Patients often understand from experience that medicines do not affect everyone in the same way. One person may tolerate a treatment well, while another may have side effects or absorb the medicine differently.

Because of this, patients valued the idea that treatment could be adjusted based on their own measured drug level, rather than relying only on standard dosing. This gave a stronger sense that care was being tailored to the individual.

4. Closer monitoring gave reassurance about safety

Antifungal drugs can be very helpful, but patients also know that some of them can have side effects and interactions. That can make treatment feel worrying, especially over longer periods.

Patients said that being able to check drug levels more quickly and more easily could help them feel safer. It suggested that treatment was being watched closely rather than left unchecked between appointments.

5. Immediate results could help patients feel more involved

Another important theme was involvement. Patients often feel that blood is taken, results disappear into the system, and decisions come later without much real-time discussion.

By contrast, a bedside result creates the possibility of discussing the number there and then. Patients felt this could help them better understand their treatment and feel more involved in decisions about dose changes and ongoing care.

6. It seemed to fit better with real life

Patients repeatedly emphasised that long-term treatment has to fit around real lives, not just clinic systems. Many welcomed the idea of a test that was quicker, simpler, and potentially more convenient.

In that sense, what patients welcomed was not just a chip or a machine, but a model of care that felt more responsive and more human-centred.

What could this mean for future care?

If this technology proves accurate, reliable, and affordable, it could support a different way of monitoring antifungal treatment.

Possible future benefits could include:

• drug level testing during the clinic appointment itself
• faster dose adjustment when levels are too high or too low
• closer monitoring when starting or changing treatment
• fewer repeat visits just to check blood levels
• potential future use in community settings or, one day, at home

It is important to be realistic. New technologies must be carefully tested before they become routine. They need to be shown to be accurate, dependable, and practical in real healthcare settings.

Even so, patients clearly recognised the potential. For them, this is not just about speed. It is about moving toward care that is:

• more responsive
• more personalised
• more convenient
• less anxiety-provoking

Common questions

Is this available now?

Usually not as a routine test in most healthcare settings. It is still being developed and studied, although interest in this type of monitoring is growing.

Will this replace ordinary blood tests?

Not immediately. Standard laboratory testing is still important. New bedside systems may first be used alongside existing methods while they are being evaluated and introduced.

Would this work for every antifungal drug?

Not necessarily. Some devices may be designed for specific drugs first. Wider use would depend on the technology and the evidence supporting it.

Could this be used at home?

Possibly one day, but that is likely to depend on how reliable, affordable, and easy to use the technology becomes. For now, clinic or bedside use is the more immediate possibility.

Why is a drop-of-blood test appealing to patients?

Because it may mean quicker answers, less uncertainty, fewer hospital trips, and more confidence that treatment decisions are based on what is happening in their own body.

When to seek medical advice

You should contact your healthcare team if you:

• develop new or worsening side effects from your antifungal medicine
• feel your treatment is not helping
• have concerns about drug interactions with other medicines
• are unsure whether to continue, stop, or change your medication

A new bedside test could support treatment decisions, but it would not replace medical advice. Symptoms, scans, blood tests, and clinical review would still matter.

Final thoughts

This new chip-based bedside technology may sound futuristic, but the reason patients welcomed it is very straightforward.

They saw the possibility of care that is faster, clearer, safer, and better adapted to real life.

In other words, this is about more than measuring a drug level from a drop of blood. It is about moving away from delayed, one-size-fits-all monitoring and toward real-time, personalised, patient-centred care.

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