A rapid assay from Ocean Dx reported 100% sensitivity and specificity versus blood culture in an early evaluation, detecting >1,000 bacterial species directly from whole blood and delivering results in five hours, which could speed sepsis diagnosis and therapy selection. The test also identified three times more infections in the study cohort compared with conventional cultures. Meanwhile, Becton Dickinson received WHO prequalification for its Onclarity HPV assay, clearing the PCR test for broader use in low‑ and middle‑income settings and supporting extended genotyping for cervical cancer screening programs. WHO prequalification can expand procurement and self‑collection strategies in resource‑limited countries. These developments reflect parallel pressures on diagnostic pipelines: shorter turnaround times for life‑threatening infections and validated, globally deployable tests for cancer prevention. Implementation will require clinical validation in diverse settings, supply chain scaling, and integration into care pathways.