AI COPD diagnostic test to be rolled out across the NHS

An AI tool to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is due to be rolled out to the NHS, offering patients an alternative to traditional spirometry.

N-Tidal Diagnose, developed by respiratory diagnostic technology company TidalSense, will be available for use across the NHS from 14 April 2025.

The tool uses AI to automatically interpret the CO2 waveform output from a patient’s normal breathing pattern and can give an accurate diagnosis in up to five minutes.

It provides an alternative to spirometry, a diagnostic technique dating back to 1846 which requires forceful breathing and specially trained medical professionals to operate.

Dr Ameera Patel, chief executive of TidalSense, said: “The N-Tidal Diagnose device represents the first real breakthrough in COPD diagnosis in several decades, addressing both the needs of the patient and of the health system – and it’s designed to be deployed at scale across the NHS.

“Our goal is to make respiratory diagnosis fast, accurate, and accessible to everyone who needs it, at the point at which they present with symptoms.

“The NHS is under immense pressure and the government has laid out ambitious plans to change the way services are delivered.

“Its targets against reducing waiting times and using staff time more efficiently will be easier to meet with the introduction of new tools like N-Tidal Diagnose.

“This simple device can help significantly reduce waiting lists, improve patient experience, deliver accurate diagnoses and ultimately provide a better standard of care for the millions of people in the UK who have COPD.”

The tool, which is aimed to reduce strain on healthcare providers and help tackle long diagnostic waiting times, has been granted regulator clearance and is CE-marked under EU Medical Device Regulations for the diagnosis of COPD.

COPD affects around three million people in the UK. It is the country’s third biggest killer, costing the NHS £1.9bn annually and contributing to more than 30,000 deaths each year.

Many patients face lengthy delays and misdiagnoses, which can lead to more severe illness and hospitalisation.

Dr Simon Rudland, a GP in Suffolk, said: “COPD is one of the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed conditions we see in the NHS, and because spirometry testing can only be carried out by specially trained practitioners, it can lead to sizeable wait lists for diagnosis.

“Having the ability to assess a patient’s lung health quickly and accurately with a device that gives near-instant results will be game-changing for respiratory care across both primary and secondary healthcare settings.”

In August 2023, it was reported that GPs, practice nurses and pharmacists in Oxford were to be the first to pilot a new AI-driven assessment technology from TidalSense that can identify patients COPD.