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Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

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Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#51

Post by codezero »

adevine wrote: post #26
codezero wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The use of existing technologies seems like an unimportant factor. Uber uses cars, more to the point they started using private limo contractors and still do. They nonetheless provided a service above and beyond what you could get before. Is Theranos using existing technologies and still not providing value above the incumbents? This is what I really want to know. I just don't know.

In the beginning, the secret sauce of Uber was still its technology - being able to order a car on your phone, seeing where the nearby drivers are, not having to pull out cash or a credit card at the end. This made the experience much better than ordering a cab.

Yes I get this. I am wondering how Theranos is failing to take advantage of other technologies, despite using existing ones, just like Uber did. What exactly has Theranos failed to deliver?

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#52

Post by codezero »

danso wrote: post #28
codezero wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok so if Theranos is using the same equipment and tests, what are they doing wrong?

Not being forthright about the scope of their technological progress and innovation, which is ostensibly the basis of its $9 billion valuation.

Who must they be forthright to? I mean, I agree, obviously, but if they aren't forthright and their investors are still paying, the investors suffer, how is the consumer suffering here?

Are they promising a product that they aren't delivering?

Sorry, I know I'm being difficult here, I would really love to chat with someone who is very invested either for or against, or both, this approach, so that I can understand better.

Seriously, if you, or you know anyone who has time to chat about this, send me an email. I don't intend to be as contrarian as I know I appear to be (and probably am being) here.

I really care, and just for purely reasons of curiosity. Anyways, ping me if we can chat.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#53

Post by adevine »

codezero wrote: post #51
adevine wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the beginning, the secret sauce of Uber was still its technology - being able to order a car on your phone, seeing where the nearby drivers are, not having to pull out cash or a credit card at the end. This made the experience much better than ordering a cab.

Yes I get this. I am wondering how Theranos is failing to take advantage of other technologies, despite using existing ones, just like Uber did. What exactly has Theranos failed to deliver?

Their "nanotainer". Theranos claimed they could do all sorts of blood tests with just a finger prick and a few drops of blood. The original WSJ article found they were doing normal venous draws, performing the tests on other companies' machines.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#54

Post by randycupertino »

wavefunction wrote: post #42
cat-dev-null wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't look like they're "acting shady," but that Walgreens + Theranos hasn't streamlined their bureaucracy and user experience which promotes the value-add of change instead of offering a lesser experience (like the much touted credit card chip, which takes longer and not as forgiving to user interaction as the ol' magstripe). Most of the time, the only lab work I trust Walgreens with is a cholesterol test and a…

I agree with swingbridge, they're "acting all shady." Especially if you've seen their public press appearances.

Totally agree, they are extremely shady. Especially when they started actively cultivating press this past spring, and a few months ago and suddenly they're shocked and pissed off that not all their press is glowing.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#55

Post by kzhahou »

joezydeco wrote: post #36
Nutmog wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those were reasons why the media and public are interested in it. Yes she does wear black turtlenecks. I'm sure the way she dresses is part of why people are so interested in the stories. It's probably largely schadenfreude, the kind the celebrities are usually subject to when they put on weight or get arrested.

I don't agree that this is schadenfreude . Here was a company that popped up, literally out of nowhere, claiming to have a handle on microfluidic diagnostic assays...something that the major players in the industry haven't been able to get off the ground since ELISA came along in the 1960s. The skeptics were quiet at first. I mean shit, they landed Walgreen's and Kroeger! It must work, right? Now we discover a little…

It's absolutely schadenfreude! Company appears to have led VCs, investors, and the public, and is actually getting called out for it. Lots of people (myself included) thought the whole thing smelled funny a while back.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#56

Post by adevine »

firasd wrote: post #37
sandGorgon wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this something innovative? In india, i just paid 90$ and got 14 different tests including tumor markers tested for. The blood was collected at home (and then sent to a central testing facility). Unless, it is radically new technology... I'm curious on the value proposition here.

Yes, the customer-friendly blood testing in India would be incredibly "disruptive" to American lab tests. Not only does the US have different costs and regulations but the medical industry is based on extracting money from insurance companies so every process is a bit occluded. That said, Theranos is still on the hook because a business model innovation would probably not justify their valuation and PR compared to a…

If it were just a business model innovation, Theranos would rightly be worth nothing, because they wouldn't bring anything to the table. CVS or Walgreen's have all the assets that would be worth anything in this situation.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#57

Post by codezero »

adevine wrote: post #53
codezero wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I get this. I am wondering how Theranos is failing to take advantage of other technologies, despite using existing ones, just like Uber did. What exactly has Theranos failed to deliver?

Their "nanotainer". Theranos claimed they could do all sorts of blood tests with just a finger prick and a few drops of blood. The original WSJ article found they were doing normal venous draws, performing the tests on other companies' machines.

OK, did they deliver the results that were expected of the tests? Is the main issue that they said, finger prick, but, it didn't take a finger prick? That's a serious main issue, but I'm just trying to determine if that is the main point of contention. Also, that doing such a draw is exactly what incumbents do. Thanks for clearing this up.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#58

Post by firasd »

icelancer wrote: post #48
adevine wrote: post #24

To me, one of the sad things about the Theranos debacle is that even if they DON'T have super whiz-bang nanotainer technology, the general model of having affordable, transparently priced tests where you can just walk into a Walgreen's and order them is pretty awesome in my opinion. There are other companies that offer something somewhat similar (e.g. AnyLabTestNow), but the experience still sucks - locations/times a…

Is there ANYTHING like this? Been searching casually for it but no luck. Would love any leads on this.

No personal experience but I've seen some things online: wellnessfx.com and directlabs.com

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#59

Post by adevine »

icelancer wrote: post #48
adevine wrote: post #24

To me, one of the sad things about the Theranos debacle is that even if they DON'T have super whiz-bang nanotainer technology, the general model of having affordable, transparently priced tests where you can just walk into a Walgreen's and order them is pretty awesome in my opinion. There are other companies that offer something somewhat similar (e.g. AnyLabTestNow), but the experience still sucks - locations/times a…

Is there ANYTHING like this? Been searching casually for it but no luck. Would love any leads on this.

https://www.anylabtestnow.com. Unfortunately, the tests are quite expensive. I believe they need to basically get a BS prescription for the tests, which adds to the expense. Theranos specifically lobbied Arizona to get the law changed so that consumers could order their own tests. I hope other states follow suit, and I hope the Theranos drama doesn't make other states think this is a bad idea.

Re: Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

#60

Post by randycupertino »

codezero wrote: post #2

There has been a lot of critical attention towards theranos. I have no opinion whether it is granted or not, in general I feel critical is always good, but the volume is so high, does anyone have any insight into the intense scrutiny theranos is receiving?

It's because Theranos with it's pretty blonde Stanford dropout founder was an absolute media darling for 7 months to a year, could do no wrong, had heaps of fawning puff piece press. Now that their questionable tech has come to light, the press feels burned and is vengeful of being caught giving them a blowjob without due diligence. So now the media swings the opposite way and lashes out at Theranos to overcompensate.
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