Dr Antony Rapisarda
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, OrthoDx
Jasmin Adebisi
Policy Manager (Health), Policy Connect
Chronic musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and persistent, undiagnosed joint pain, are a leading cause of disability and healthcare utilisation in the UK.1
Delays in diagnosis, particularly for infectious arthritis, can result in prolonged pain, missed windows for early treatment and an overburdened secondary care system.
Faster arthritis diagnosis breakthrough
OrthoDx are seeking to address this challenge with a transformative diagnostic platform: Synchovior. This synovial fluid test uses biomarker analysis to rapidly distinguish inflammatory arthritis from other types of joint pain, offering a clear diagnostic direction at the point of care.
In a European-first, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) has become the first in Europe to trial a Synovial Fluid Triage test in a clinical setting. The evaluation is being led by leading consultant rheumatologists and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Early results are promising, showing that the test has the potential to reduce unnecessary admissions to hospitals, provide faster access to appropriate care and significantly reduce demand for beds and the costs associated with care.2
By shifting diagnostics closer to the
patient, healthcare professionals and
policymakers can support a patient-centred,
community-first model of care.
Diagnostics support NHS and community care
The real-world deployment of Synchovior at NNUH (Norfolk Norwich University Hospital) illustrates how innovations in diagnostics can be safely integrated into NHS services, starting in an A&E setting, but with clear scalability into primary and community care.
With most joint pain patients initially presenting to A&E with undiagnosed underlying causes, empowering frontline clinicians with tools like Synchovior can cut waiting times, improve triage accuracy and enable earlier intervention, especially in underserved areas.
By shifting diagnostics closer to the patient, healthcare professionals and policymakers can support a patient-centred, community-first model of care. Synchovior provides not only clinical insight but also system-wide efficiencies — minimising hospital visits, optimising referrals and aligning with the NHS Long Term Plan’s focus on integrated and preventative care.
Data-driven healthcare transformation
As the burden of chronic conditions continues to rise, early and accurate diagnosis is the gateway to better outcomes. The Government’s recent announcement of a £600 million investment in a new Health Data Research Service — aimed at centralising NHS data to accelerate medical research and improve access to new treatments and technologies — underscores the critical role of integrated efforts in advancing patient care.
By aligning with such initiatives, we aim to ensure that innovations like Synchovior are effectively integrated into the healthcare system, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
[1] Public Health England. 2021. Health Profile for England.
[2] Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals. European-first to trial new test to diagnose joint inflammation.
