Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Handheld White Blood Cell Tracker to Enable Rapid Testing For Infections

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 22 Jan 2024

White blood cells (WBC), or leukocytes, are key indicators of an individual's immune system health. More...

High or low WBC counts can signify the severity of an infection, indicate life-threatening conditions like sepsis, or assist in monitoring patient responses to therapies like chemotherapy and psychotropic drugs. Generally, the blood collected for WBC testing is sent to a central lab for analysis that sends results within hours, making it inconvenient and delaying time-sensitive diagnosis or treatment. Now, an innovative device can rapidly count a person’s WBC with a single drop of blood, similar to the way glucometers rapidly scan for blood sugar levels, enabling rapid testing and improved triaging for infections.

Called the CytoTracker Leukometer, the device developed by researchers at Rutgers startup RizLab Health Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) can quickly aid the detection of elevated or reduced WBC counts. The device has undergone comprehensive testing, comparing its performance with conventional lab benchtop hematology analyzers used for standard blood tests. These trials confirmed that the CytoTracker Leukometer is at least 97% accurate, thereby meeting established clinical standards. The potential applications of the device are broad and significant. In emergency room settings, it could expedite the detection of sepsis in patients more swiftly than current methods, which typically involve blood draws and lab testing.

Oncologists might use it to quickly assess whether chemotherapy patients require a WBC stimulant. Additionally, it has important implications in psychiatry, particularly for patients on clozapine, commonly prescribed for conditions like schizophrenia. These patients frequently suffer from neutropenia, a deficiency in neutrophils, and need regular testing to renew their prescriptions. The CytoTracker Leukometer's ability to rapidly measure neutrophil levels could greatly ease the process of maintaining necessary medication regimens.

“Normally, doing a blood count requires a phlebotomist taking a needle stick and collecting significant amounts of venous blood and sending the samples off to labs where they are tested, sometimes taking hours or even days,” said Mehdi Javanmard, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Rutgers School of Engineering, and the co-founder and CEO of RizLab Health Inc. “Our handheld device enables near-patient testing, while only requiring a tiny amount of blood and returning results within minutes, allowing clinicians to make decisions almost immediately.”

“Rapid test results have revolutionized the field of medicine,” added Dr. Tanaya Bhowmick, an infectious disease physician. “The white blood count is a parameter that physicians routinely order to evaluate a patient for possible infection. Having this information rapidly can help triage patients in the outpatient setting."

Related Links:
RizLab Health Inc


Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Gold Member
Automated MALDI-TOF MS System
EXS 3000
Gram-Negative Blood Culture Assay
LIAISON PLEX Gram-Negative Blood Culture Assay
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Immunology

view channel
Image: The CloneSeq-SV approach can allow researchers to study how cells within high-grade serous ovarian cancer change over time (Photo courtesy of MSK)

Blood Test Tracks Treatment Resistance in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because it spreads microscopically throughout the abdomen, and although initial surgery and chemotherapy can work, most... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The collaboration aims to improve access to Hb variant testing with the Gazelle POC diagnostic platform (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

Terumo BCT and Hemex Health Collaborate to Improve Access to Testing for Hemoglobin Disorders

Millions of people worldwide living with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobin disorders experience delayed diagnosis and limited access to effective care, particularly in regions where testing is scarce.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.