How can routine diagnostic testing be made faster, more hygienic, and less time-consuming for both patients and healthcare professionals?
Swedish company VSA Innovation AB is addressing this challenge with SmartUrine, a compact and fully automated solution that integrates urine testing directly into the toilet. By removing the need for manual sample collection and laboratory handling, the system enables real-time analysis and continuous monitoring of patient health.
Through the ACE project, VSA Innovation piloted SmartUrine with care organisation Vereen in Zwolle, the Netherlands, exploring how automation and digital connectivity could streamline diagnostics and support more efficient care delivery.
We spoke with Peidi Liu, co-founder of VSA Innovation, about the inspiration behind the solution, the lessons learned from cross-border testing, and the realities of implementing innovation in different healthcare systems.
Can you introduce VSA Innovation and the SmartUrine solution?
My background is in molecular biology and bioinformatics, with experience in both laboratory work and data analysis, particularly in kidney-related research.
We founded VSA Innovation to develop an automated solution for urine testing, because current processes are time-consuming for both nurses and patients. With SmartUrine, we use the toilet itself as a “mini laboratory”. When a patient uses the toilet, the system automatically performs the test and sends the results directly to a digital platform.
This removes the need for manual handling and allows healthcare professionals to access real-time data without additional workload. It also opens up the possibility of continuous monitoring, which is especially valuable for older patients with conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or urinary tract infections.
By tracking data over time, we can move towards more personalised care and earlier detection of changes in health status.
What inspired you to develop this solution?
The idea came during my time working in a research laboratory.
We were running teaching sessions where students had to carry out urine tests themselves. This involved collecting samples, transferring them into tubes, and analysing them manually. It was a time-consuming and inefficient process, especially with many people involved.
I realised that all of these manual steps could be avoided if the testing process was integrated directly into the toilet. That was the starting point: simplifying the process and making it seamless for both users and healthcare providers.
What were you hoping to achieve through the ACE pilot?
Within the ACE project, we saw strong potential for SmartUrine in nursing homes, particularly for continuous monitoring and early detection of conditions such as urinary tract infections.
The idea was to test the solution in a real care environment and compare it with existing workflows, to understand whether it could save time for nurses while maintaining accuracy.
What challenges did you encounter during the pilot?
One of the main challenges was aligning expectations.
The care organisation and the capabilities of the solution were not fully aligned at the start. This was partly due to indirect communication, which meant that we did not have direct dialogue with the nurses beforehand.
Another key challenge was technical. Our solution relies on stable Wi-Fi connectivity, and while it worked in one location, it did not function reliably across different parts of the facility. This made it difficult to continue testing as planned.
There were also differences in our expectations around testing methods. For example, we initially planned A/B testing against traditional methods, but this was not feasible for the care organisation due to time and resource constraints.
What did you learn from this experience?
Despite the challenges, the pilot provided valuable insights.
We gained a much better understanding of how healthcare systems operate in the Netherlands, including:
- How care workflows are organised in nursing homes
- How data systems are structured and managed
- The role of nurses and doctors in decision-making
We also saw important differences between countries. For example, in the Netherlands, nursing homes often have nurses and sometimes doctors on-site, allowing for more direct decision-making. In Sweden, care assistants play a larger role, and processes involve more coordination with external healthcare providers.
These insights are very important for us as we develop our go-to-market strategy and adapt our solution for different healthcare systems.
What would you advise other companies considering a pilot like this?
The most important advice is to ensure direct communication with the end users, in this case, the nurses.
It is essential that both sides clearly understand:
- What the technology does
- What the testing involves
- What the expectations are
Without this alignment, it becomes very difficult to run a successful pilot.
It is also important to check all technical requirements in advance, such as connectivity, as these can have a major impact on implementation.
How was your experience working with the ACE project?
Overall, the experience with ACE was very positive.
The project provides strong support and makes it much easier for small companies to connect with partners across borders. This is something that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.
The cross-border aspect is particularly valuable, as it allows companies to learn quickly about different healthcare systems and test their solutions in new contexts.
Would you recommend participating in an ACE pilot?
Yes, absolutely.
ACE offers a valuable opportunity for small and medium-sized companies to test their solutions in real-world environments and build partnerships across countries.
If possible, it could also be beneficial to allow testing in multiple locations, as this would provide even more insight into how solutions perform in different settings.