yes, by and large the incumbents comply with regulations, use industry standard equipment that has been tested and approved as being accurate for its intended use, etc.
Theranos' initial value proposition was to provide a blood test that didn't require intravenous draw, which most people don't like because it's painful and off-putting. They proposed technology that could do most common blood tests from a drop of blood, collected from a pin-prick.
Their initial value proposition was not that they would simply open blood collection sites in pharmacies or supermarkets. That could have been a serviceable proposition had it been theirs, but it wouldn't have justified their huge valuation. Their valuation is based on the idea that they would be able to do most blood tests from a drop of blood, collected from a pinprick. They have failed to accomplish this.
Who must they be forthright to? I mean, I agree, obviously, but if they aren't forthright and their investors are still paying, the investors suffer, how is the consumer suffering here?
Are they promising a product that they aren't delivering?
Sorry, I know I'm being difficult here, I would really love to chat with someone who is very invested either for or against, or both, this approach, so that I can understand better.
Seriously, if you, or you know anyone who has time to chat about this, send me an email. I don't intend to be as contrarian as I know I appear to be (and probably am being) here.
I really care, and just for purely reasons of curiosity. Anyways, ping me if we can chat.
Well they should at least be forthright with customers/patients. There are lots of anecdotal blog posts (one by former Apple vp of engineering) about the accuracy of their tests for example. Remember this is about people's health, so you can imagine the sensitivity here compared to your usual consumer type of startup.
In regards to the rest of your comment (as well as your other posts littering this thread), your not being difficult as so much as lazy :P
A quick Google search and 15 mins of reading will catch you up to speed about Theranos and all the (negative) attention they are currently receiving in the press. Start with the series of recent WSJ articles about Theranos.