Red Drop’s Bet on Pain-Free Blood Collection and the Next Wave of Diagnostics

In this episode of Diagnosing Dx, David Filby is joined by Thomas Briggs, Chief Growth Officer at RedDrop Dx. Thomas brings more than 25 years of diagnostics and healthcare growth experience, spanning pharma, big diagnostics, medtech, and startup environments. In this conversation, we explore one of the most overlooked parts of diagnostics: blood collection, and why the process still looks far too similar to what it did decades ago. Thomas breaks down where arm-based micro-sampling could genuinely change patient experience, from paediatrics and neurodivergent patients to home testing, clinical trials, and difficult vein access. We also get into the commercial reality behind a product like this: where the most promising markets are, why education still matters, how labs and platforms need to adapt, and what it takes to build a medtech business without following the usual VC-heavy playbook. This is a practical conversation about workflow, access, patient experience, and what happens when a simple shift in blood collection could unlock broader changes across diagnostics and healthcare delivery. Key takeaways: 🔹 Why blood collection remains one of the least-innovated parts of diagnostics 🔹 Where arm-based micro-sampling could have the biggest clinical and commercial impact 🔹 Why paediatrics, neurodivergent patients, and difficult vein access are such important use cases 🔹 How home sampling could change clinical trials, routine monitoring, and direct-to-consumer care 🔹 What it takes to commercialise a medtech product in both consumer and managed-care settings Chapters: 01:51 Thomas Briggs’ background in diagnostics, pharma, and medtech 06:28 Moving from big corporates into startups 11:04 What RedDrop Dx is building and how the device works 14:39 Where the biggest commercial opportunities are for arm-based micro-sampling 18:48 Why education and awareness are still a major challenge 21:22 RedDrop Dx’s story so far and why it was bootstrapped 26:05 How the company is building for growth across different market segments 30:10 Future milestones, home collection clearance, and expansion into Europe 31:31 Thomas’s outlook on diagnostics, home testing, and micro-sampling in 2026 Guest: Thomas Briggs Chief Growth Officer at RedDrop Dx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-briggs-959865177/ Host: David Filby Founder and CEO of Elevra Consulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfilby/ 🔔 Subscribe to Diagnosing Dx for weekly conversations with leaders shaping the future of diagnostics and omics.