Systems, methods and program products for collecting and organizing health data

Abstract

One example embodiment of the invention is a system for collecting, measuring and outputting health data including a plurality of readers that each determine a plurality of different biomarker measurements from a bodily fluid sample, the test readers communicating test data sets over a network. A central computer is linked to each of the plurality of test readers and receives the test data set, the central computer associates at least a first security key with the test data set. The central computer responds to a first request for a test output report that includes the first security key and retrieves the corresponding test data set. The central computer prepares a test output report that includes a plurality of bodily fluid test measurements and transmits it over a network.

1 . A system for collecting, measuring and outputting health data, the system comprising:
 a plurality of test readers that each determine a plurality of biomarker measurements in a bodily fluid sample and that generate a test data set for each bodily fluid sample that comprises the plurality of different biomarker measurements, the test readers communicating the test data sets over a network;   a central computer in communication with each of the plurality of test readers over the network, the central computer receiving the test data sets and storing the test data sets in a memory, the central computer associating at least a first security key with each test data set; and,   the central computer responding to a first request for a test output report received over a network that includes the first security key by communicating a test output report that includes the plurality of biomarker measurements over the network.   
     
     
         2 . A system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the central computer further responds to the first request by retrieving the corresponding test data set and preparing the test output report. 
     
     
         3 . A system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the test reader prepares a test output report. 
     
     
         4 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein the central computer further compares each of the biomarker measurements from a test data set to a corresponding universe of biomarker measurement data to calculate a relative measurement for each biomarker measurement, and wherein the test output report includes the relative values. 
     
     
         5 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein the biomarker measurements comprise quantitative measurements, wherein the plurality of test readers read a unique sample ID from the bodily fluid sample and include this in the test data set. 
     
     
         6 . A system as defined by  claim 5  wherein:
 the test reader includes a timestamp with each test data set; 
 the first security key corresponds to a first test subject that submits a plurality of different bodily fluid test samples at different times, the test reader including a different timestamp with each of the plurality of bodily fluid test samples from the first test subject, the central computer assigning the same first security key to each of the corresponding plurality of test data reports from the first test subject; and, 
 in response to a second request that includes the first security key and that request a historical test output report, the central computer searches the memory to identify all biomarker measurements that correspond to the first security key and creates a historical data output report that includes all biomarker measurements that correspond to the first security key graphed over time. 
 
     
     
         7 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 a plurality of first test data sets are related to one another define a first group of test data sets; 
 the central computer stores a first group security key with each of the first test data sets in the memory; 
 in response to a second request that includes the first group security key the central computer creates a first group output report that includes average biomarker measurements calculated using all the biomarker measurements from the first group, and the central computer communicates the first group report over the network. 
 
     
     
         8 . A system as defined by  claim 7  wherein:
 the test readers includes a timestamp with each test data set; 
 the first group of test data sets is generated using first bodily fluid samples from a first group of individuals; 
 the plurality of first test data sets are measured at a first time; 
 the plurality of test readers generate a second plurality of test data sets at a second time using second bodily fluid samples and biometric data from the first group of individuals; 
 the central computer stores the first group security key with the second plurality of test data sets in the memory; and, 
 in response to a third request for a historical test output report that includes the first group security key, the central computer uses the first group security key to retrieve from the memory the first test data sets and the second test data sets, the central computer preparing the historical data output report that includes bodily fluid measurement averages measured over time for the first and second test data sets. 
 
     
     
         9 . A system as defined by  claim 7  wherein:
 the central computer uses average biomarker measurements for the first group to predict one or more of a number of future incidences of health incidents or future health care costs for the first group. 
 
     
     
         10 . A system as defined by  claim 7  wherein:
 a plurality of second test data sets are related to one another and define a second group of test data sets; 
 the central computer stores each of the plurality of second test data sets with a second group security key; 
 in response to a third request that includes the second group security key the central computer creates a second group output report that includes average bodily fluid measurements for the plurality of second test data sets and communicating the second group report over the network; and, 
 in response to a fourth request that include at least one of the first group security keys and the second group security keys the central computer creates a group comparison report that compares average biomarker measurements, from the first group to average biomarker measurements from the second group. 
 
     
     
         11 . A system as defined by  claim 10  wherein each of the first and second test data sets further includes demographic information, and wherein in response to a fifth request that includes the first security key and the second group identifier and at least one demographic category, the central computer calculates average biomarker measurement data for the second group for the specified demographic category and creates a test output report that compares biomarker measurement data from a individual test data set from the first group to the average biomarker measurement data for the second group. 
     
     
         12 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 each test data set further includes demographic information; 
 in response to a second request that specifies at least one demographic category, the central computer retrieves a universe of data from a plurality of stored test data reports, the universe of data corresponding to the specified demographic category and the central computer creates a customized demographic test output report that includes relative biomarker measurements comparing biomarker data from one individual test data report to the universe of demographic data. 
 
     
     
         13 . A system as defined by  claim 12  wherein:
 the demographic categories include gender and age, and also include one or more of tobacco use profile, alcohol use profile, occupation, level of education, residence geography information, exercise profile, and employer; and, 
 wherein the test reader communicates over the data network to download updates. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for collecting, measuring and outputting health data as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 a test subject provides each bodily fluid sample; 
 the test data set stored by the central computer further includes personal data comprising at least test subject name, residence, date of birth, and sex; 
 the personal data from a first test data sample submitted by a first test subject is stored by the first computer; 
 the stored personal data is retrieved by the central computer upon receipt of a second request that includes the first security key and associated with a second test data set that also corresponds with the first security key wherein the personal data is only required to be input one time. 
 
     
     
         15 . A system for collecting, measuring and outputting health data as defined by  claim 1  wherein the plurality of test readers interrogate test sample holders that include chemical reagents that react with the bodily fluid, and wherein the test readers make at least two biomarker measurements simultaneously, and wherein the test readers communicate test reader maintenance status over the data network. 
     
     
         16 . A system for collecting, measuring and outputting health data as defined by  claim 1  wherein the bodily fluid is urine, the plurality of test readers receive a test sample panel device that include a urine test strip that react with urine and include at least 3 different reagents that each measure a different biomarker and wherein the test reader takes at least three different biomarker measurements from the test panel device simultaneously. 
     
     
         17 . A system for collecting, measuring and outputting health data as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 the test reader takes at least three biomarker measurements simultaneously from the bodily fluid test sample; 
 the test reader measurements are quantitative and made using reflected light from the test sample; 
 the test reader makes the bodily fluid measurements within two hours of exposure of the urine test strip to urine; 
 the output report includes a body mass index value, and 
 the central computer receives additional data communicated over the network from users upon presentation of the first security key, the additional data unrelated to bodily fluid data, the central computer storing the additional data in a memory and communicating the additional data over the network in response to a second request for the additional data that includes the first security key. 
 
     
     
         18 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 the bodily fluid sample comprises urine contained in a dry chemical media, the dry chemical media supported on a test sample holder that is received by the test readers, the dry chemical media arranged within the test sample holder to allow for at least three different biomarkers to be measured by the test reader, the dry chemical media spatially arranged to define discrete sections for testing of different components; 
 wherein the presence of chemical components in the urine cause a color change to the dry chemical media; and, 
 wherein the measurements performed comprise quantitative biomarker measurements that utilize the color changes of the dry chemical media. 
 
     
     
         19 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 the test readers are portable; 
 the bodily fluid sample is contained in a dry chemical media that is held on a test sample holder that is received by the test readers, 
 the test sample holder includes security information; and, 
 the test reader will only perform the bodily fluid measurements if it determines that the test sample holder security information is present. 
 
     
     
         20 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of measurements made by the test readers include measurements of a plurality of biomarkers that are useful to indicate at least oxidative stress, oxidative capacity, and inflammation; 
 the central computer uses the measurements to determine relative indicators for oxidative stress, oxidative capacity, inflammation and body mass index; 
 the central computer uses at least the height, weight of a test subject to determine the test subject's body mass index; 
 the test data output report includes relative indicators for oxidative stress, oxidative capacity, inflammation and body mass index; 
 the central computer stores additional data provided by test subjects over the network that is not test data; and, 
 the central computer provides targeted advertising over the network to users. 
 
     
     
         21 . A system as defined by  claim 1  wherein the central computer is configured to identify sub-groups of users through identification of a change in data provided by users. 
     
     
         22 . A computer program product for processing, storing and outputting health data, the program product comprising executable instructions stored in a non-volatile memory, the instructions when executed causing one or more computers to execute steps comprising:
 receive a plurality of individual test data sets over a network from test readers that are connected to the network, each of the plurality of test data sets generated from a bodily fluid sample taken from an individual and including measurement data for at least three different biomarkers that are useful to estimate oxidative stress, oxidative capacity, and inflammation;   store the plurality of data sets in a memory;   associate a plurality of the test data sets with a first security key that corresponds to a related group in the memory;   receive over a network a first request for a group output report, the request including the first security key;   use the first security key to identify from the memory the plurality of test data sets that correspond to the group;   calculate averages for each of the biomarker measurements from all of the test data sets that correspond to the group; and,   prepare a group output report that includes the biomarker measurement averages for the group and communicate the group output report over the network.   
     
     
         23 . A computer program product as defined by  claim 22  wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computers to execute steps including:
 read a second security key from each test data set that corresponds to an individual; 
 read personal data from each test data set; 
 store the second security key and personal data in the memory with corresponding of the plurality of test data sets; 
 receive a second request over the network that includes the second security key and at least one demographic category; 
 identify an individual test data set that corresponds to the second security key and retrieve it from the memory; 
 use the demographic category to identify a subset of the plurality of test data sets that define the group and calculate average biomarker measurements for the subset of the plurality of test data sets; 
 create a customized demographic output report that includes relative biomarker measurements that compare the biomarker measurements from the individual test data set that corresponds to the second security key to the average biomarker measurements determined for the subset of the plurality of test data sets that define the group, and to communicate the customized demographic output report over the network.