Revolutionary rapid blood-testing technology

New blood-testing technology is being developed by Lancaster academics.
The new small-scale technology, called EBio-LacSens’, would rapidly measure blood characteristics to monitor for sepsis or toxins. It would be a good indicator of the success of treatments following operations and it could ensure the early detection of sepsis in chemotherapy patients. In addition it could help evaluate the status of fetuses.
The device does this by taking pinprick samples of blood and providing rapid chemical analysis – in less than a minute. This quick processing of samples, when compared to the traditional process where samples that have to be sent for analysis at hospital laboratories (a process that can take hours), enables medical staff to quickly adjust treatments in response to the improved data.
Michael Mumford, from eBiogen, said: ‘This project passed its feasibility stage and it is now progressing well in its prototype stage with encouraging results. We are starting the human blood testing soon before proceeding to market. Lancaster University has enabled us to develop a rich and supportive expert network.’
By bringing blood diagnostics closer to the patient there are additional benefits of reduced risk of contamination and cost savings.
Dr Mukesh Kumar, the project Research Fellow, said, ‘Although the existing point-of-care testing kits have resolved a few conventional problems, they have not had a great impact in most clinical testing. The new technology would circumvent many current problems through miniaturization, enabling an economical, portable analyser to be used by the bedside’. The prospect of being able to significantly reduce the time between taking a sample and the delivery of the analysis is exciting and rewarding.’

Lancaster University http://tinyurl.com/zblchvt