Kao, in partnership with Healthcare Systems Co., Ltd., has launched an in-home mail-in testing service for examining skin barrier functions in infants. Using an oil blotting film to collect facial sebum, Kao can apply skin surface lipids-RNA monitoring technology to "infer" skin and physical conditions such as pediatric atopic dermatitis and Parkinson's disease.
The analysis examines the approximately 10,000 types of RNA expression information contained in sebum. Critically, Kao's service benefits from Background a technology that allows for the stable room temperature preservation and transport of SSL-RNA collected from sebum, which otherwise degrades due to enzyme action if left unattended.
The move is the start of Kao's expansion into health testing services. Despite this, Kao notes that the service is not intended to replace standard disease diagnoses.
Read the foundational research here.
