## 8 Future Directions and Innovations  
Even with the rapidly evolving widespread availability of chronic disease and cancer tests, the continued implementation of workplace point-of-care cancer screening is contingent upon developing testing technologies that are easy to use without specialized medical training and that provide reliable results. There also remains a need for point-of-care tests that are very sensitive (minimally invasive, with little chance of false negative results) and very specific (resulting in few positive tests for individuals who do not have the disease and so low chances of false positive results; no unexpected positive results). Innovations in testing technologies, sample types (biofluids), testing environments (such as using smartphones to read test results) and test formats (mixed tests or multiplex formats that test for multiple conditions simultaneously, executive tests, etc.) are all necessary and important components of addressing this need and relevant future areas for research. The landscape of workplace health management is poised for further transformation through the integration of emerging technologies that enhance the capabilities of POCT and digital health passports. Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a particularly promising frontier. Machine learning algorithms can augment the interpretation of POCT results, improving diagnostic accuracy, stratifying disease risk and enabling predictive analytics [79]. For example, AI models trained on large datasets can detect subtle patterns in biomarker profiles indicative of early-stage disease, informing personalized intervention strategies. Blockchain technology offers further opportunities beyond data security. Smart contracts--self-executing digital agreements--could automate consent management, ensuring that employees retain granular control over the use of their health data. Blockchain can also facilitate cross-border interoperability of digital health passports, supporting multinational workforces and global mobility [70, 71]. As shown in Figure 6, the integrated workflow of POCT and Digital Health Passports at the workplace would first necessitate the use of onsite or mobile devices to perform diagnostic tests (e.g., HbA1c, PSA), resulting in real-time results that can be digitized and encrypted at the source. Subsequently, the results can be uploaded via API to a secure server or blockchain ledger, while the employee receives a notification through their mobile health app. Through consent-based sharing, employees can selectively share their health data with occupational health services, insurers or healthcare providers. This integration reduces  
Figure 5: Representation of the user interface of the bespoke app developed by [PERSON] et al. [89]. Prior to the measurement of a saliva sample with the aid of a portable bioelectric biosensor [90] (attached to the smartphone via a USB port) (**left**), the user inputs personal and historical data (e.g., age, gender, status of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, etc.) (**middle**). After the completion of the three-minute assay, a QR code is generated containing the test results (**right**). administrative burden, enhances transparency and empowers employees to manage their health autonomously. Wearable biosensors represent another exciting development. Advances in materials science and microelectronics have enabled the creation of wearable devices capable of continuously monitoring physiological parameters such as glucose levels, cardiac rhythms and inflammatory markers [76, 80, 81]. Integration of wearable data streams into digital health passports can transform periodic workplace screenings into continuous, dynamic health monitoring systems. State-of-the-art devices integrate flexible electronics, wireless data transmission and nanomaterial-based sensing elements to enable non-invasive, in situ analysis under dynamic conditions.