Withings U-Scan: Home Urinalysis Lab Finally Goes on Sale

At CES 2023, the French company Withings already presented what it claims to be the world's first platform for analyzing biomarkers in urine for home use: U-Scan. At the time, it was said that the device, which fits in the toilet bowl, would be available in Europe from the second quarter of the year. However, things went quiet around U-Scan afterward. Now, more than two years late, U-Scan is indeed available for order on the official manufacturer's website, which offers smart scales, blood pressure monitors, and smartwatches for health monitoring, among other things.

What has not changed is that Withings' urinalysis lab is capable of performing different tests via various cartridges. For the sales launch, the “U-Scan Nutrio” cartridge will be available, which was previously presented as “U-Scan Nutri Balance.” It measures biomarkers such as pH, hydration, ketones, and vitamin C levels and, according to Withings, helps users better understand their diet and metabolism. In addition, according to the manufacturer, “U-Scan Calci” is available in limited quantities, which measures values such as calcium, pH, and urine concentration, thus making risk factors for kidney stones visible. This latter cartridge replaces the “U-Scan Cycle Sync” presented at the time in the launch offer, a hormone-based solution for cycle tracking that was intended to help women build a cycle-adjusted health routine, according to Withings. It is currently unclear whether this will be added later.

The home urinalysis lab is not cheap. The list price for the “ProActive” package with one U-Scan and one cartridge is 349.95 Euros. While this set price is below the originally announced 500 Euros, it was previously mentioned that a subscription for automatic refills could be purchased for an estimated 30 Euros per month. A cartridge was supposed to enable tests over a period of three months, resulting in 90 euros per cycle. Now, according to Withings, the “ProActive” package is limited to “a few measurements” (specifically 2 to 4) per week, and subsequent cartridges will be delivered “every 2-3 months at a price of 99.95 Euros per cycle”.

Alternatively, you can opt for the Intensive package with one U-Scan and two cartridges for 429.95 Euros, which is designed for more frequent use (5 to 7 measurements per week). Future deliveries will be made every 2 to 3 months at a price of 179.95 Euros per cycle. Withings states that the cartridge subscription can be canceled easily and conveniently at any time via account settings. The scope of delivery includes a station with a USB-C connection, in which the U-Scan can be cleaned and charged simultaneously, which takes about three hours in total according to the manufacturer. The battery life on a single charge is stated to be 3 months. The station can also be used for storing the U-Scan.

U-Scan transmits the collected data via Bluetooth LE to the paired smartphone (Android or iOS) with the Withings app, which visualizes it and provides personalized recommendations. The app subscription “Withings+” is included in the U-Scan subscription. Withings points out that the measurements with U-Scan Calci are not intended for medical use (including self-diagnosis or medical consultation) but are only “designed for general fitness and wellness purposes.” And the U-Scan Nutrio measurements can also only be used for self-tracking purposes.

The product sheets no longer mention that U-Scan is supposed to distinguish urine from other liquids but also to assign the urine stream to the respective (registered) user. With this function, called “Stream ID,” low-energy radar sensors embedded in the reader are supposed to measure several variables to identify “a person's individual urine stream signature,” including the movement and distance of the stream. The information from the stream ID should then be confirmable (and probably also correctable) in the app, according to Withings. (nij)