Theranos' system allows dozens of tests to be run on that single drop of blood, with results available within a few hours. Follow-up tests can be run on the original sample, all for 50% to 90% cheaper than Medicare reimbursement rates.
Revolutionizing the blood test made Holmes a billionaire. But that golden idea should be good for lots of people, not just her wallet.
Holmes says the transformative thing here is providing people with information that they can use to change their lives and become healthier.
"When individuals have access to the information about their bodies, they can begin to change outcomes," she said onstage at TEDMED. "Type 2 diabetes alone, which drives 20% of our healthcare cost, can be reversed with changes in lifestyle, in diet, and exercise."