The Igloo Pro already has a strong validated test menu covering chronic disease screening, inflammation, metabolic health, hormone testing, and infectious disease differentiation. For the Namibia launch, the most relevant validated tests include:

1. HbA1c — Essential for diabetes screening and long-term glucose monitoring, allowing GPs to assess glycaemic control without fasting.
2. CRP / hs-CRP — A rapid inflammation marker that supports infection triage and helps clinicians assess whether further investigation or escalation may be needed.
3. TSH — Thyroid Stimulating Hormone — A first-line thyroid screening test for identifying possible hypo- or hyperthyroidism in routine primary care.
4. Ferritin — A key marker for iron deficiency and anaemia, especially relevant for women, children, and antenatal care.
5. Vitamin D — 25-OH — Supports assessment of vitamin D deficiency, with relevance to bone health, immune function, and preventive wellness screening.
6. Lipid Panel + Glucose — Provides a practical cardiometabolic snapshot, supporting cardiovascular risk screening and metabolic health assessments.
7. D-Dimer — Useful in the assessment of thrombotic risk and urgent triage pathways where further clinical evaluation may be required.
8. Testosterone — Relevant for investigating hormonal health concerns, including symptoms such as fatigue, low libido, infertility, or suspected endocrine imbalance.
9. AMH — Anti-Müllerian Hormone — Supports ovarian reserve assessment and fertility-related consultations.
10. SARS-CoV-2 / Influenza A & B — Helps differentiate common respiratory infections at the point of care, supporting faster patient management decisions.

Beyond the currently validated menu, HelioMed Solutions is also prioritising additional tests with strong relevance to Namibia’s disease burden and primary care needs, including malaria, HIV screening, syphilis testing, and other infectious disease and antenatal care markers as the Igloo Pro test offering expands.

NAMAF’s 2026 Benchmark Tariffs for Point-of-Care Devices already include several clinically important test categories that align directly with the Igloo Pro’s current or near-term diagnostic menu. For appropriately registered practitioners under the POC Pathology Sub-discipline 014 003, these tariff-listed categories include:

• HbA1c — supporting diabetes screening and long-term glucose monitoring
• C-Reactive Protein — CRP — supporting rapid inflammation and infection assessment
• D-Dimer — Quantitative — supporting thrombotic risk assessment and urgent triage pathways
• Cholesterol / HDL / LDL / Triglycerides Panel — supporting cardiovascular and metabolic risk screening
• Glucose — Quantitative — supporting blood sugar assessment at the point of care
• Triglycerides — supporting lipid and cardiometabolic evaluation

The tariff schedule also includes categories such as Troponin isoforms and HCG qualitative and quantitative testing, which may become commercially relevant as the Igloo Pro test menu continues to expand through future validation and rollout.

This matters because it means point-of-care testing is not only a faster clinical workflow — it is also becoming a formally structured, tariff-recognised service category for Namibian practices that complete the required NAMAF registration pathway.

NAMAF has created a more formal structure for point-of-care pathology testing. In its April 2026 memorandum, NAMAF confirmed that POC-specific pathology codes have been removed from the standard GP schedule and now sit under the dedicated POC Pathology Sub-discipline: 014 003.

This means that GPs and clinics wishing to continue claiming for point-of-care pathology tests through medical aid must apply for the relevant sub-discipline registration. NAMAF provided a grace period, but after 31 July 2026, POCT claims will only be reimbursed for practitioners allocated the 014 003 sub-discipline number.

The application process requires:

• A written application for the sub-discipline change
• A valid calibration certificate for the POCT equipment
• Proof of ownership or lease of the device

HelioMed Solutions is positioning the Igloo Pro launch around this change so practices can understand the opportunity, the deadline, and the practical steps needed to prepare.

Point-of-care testing gives practices the ability to move from “test now, discuss later” to “test, interpret, and act during the same consultation.” This can improve clinical workflow, patient experience, and the overall value of the consultation.

For GPs, the potential benefits include:

• Faster clinical decision-making with results available while the patient is still in the room
• Earlier treatment, counselling, or referral where needed
• Fewer delayed follow-ups caused by pending laboratory results
• More complete preventive, wellness, and chronic disease screening during routine visits
• New in-practice diagnostic service opportunities through tests that align with NAMAF’s point-of-care tariff framework, where registration and coding requirements are met
• Additional cash-pay revenue opportunities, as practices may also offer selected point-of-care tests directly to patients as private-pay screening, wellness, or convenience services where medical aid reimbursement is not used

The 2026 NAMAF Point-of-Care Tariff Schedule includes categories such as HbA1c, CRP, lipid panel, glucose, triglycerides, D-Dimer, and troponin isoforms, making POCT a clinically relevant and commercially meaningful category for properly registered practices. Combined with the ability to offer selected tests on a cash basis, point-of-care testing can support both better same-visit patient care and a more diversified practice service model.

No. The Igloo Pro is designed for point-of-care environments outside of traditional laboratory infrastructure. It is compact, portable, and intended for use in settings such as medical practices, clinics, pharmacies, corporate wellness environments, and other decentralised care sites.

Depending on the test, the workflow can involve a small fingerprick sample, with the test cassette then read on the Igloo Pro. Results are available within minutes and can be stored, visualised, and managed digitally through compatible applications.

HelioMed Solutions will support onboarding with training that covers:

• Device operation
• Fingerprick and capillary sampling technique
• Test workflow
• Result handling
• Practical use in a clinical environment

The Igloo Reader Pro guide also emphasises proper sample collection technique, including warming the hand when needed, discarding the first drop of blood, avoiding excessive squeezing, and following test-specific instructions carefully to support reliable results.