We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Point-of-Care Device to Reduce Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Time from Days to Minutes

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 12 Sep 2023
Print article
Image: The rapid diagnostic test could pinpoint the correct antibiotic for infection treatment in under an hour (Photo courtesy of Microplate Dx)
Image: The rapid diagnostic test could pinpoint the correct antibiotic for infection treatment in under an hour (Photo courtesy of Microplate Dx)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health issue, currently leading to over 1.27 million deaths worldwide each year. By 2050, AMR could be causing up to 10 million deaths annually, surpassing even cancer and diabetes. One of the consequences of rising AMR is that medicine could revert back to a time before antibiotics, jeopardizing even routine surgeries. One of the main types of infections contributing to this issue is urinary tract infections (UTIs). They are a leading cause of sickness and death and are closely linked with sepsis cases. There is a critical need for quick diagnostic tests to determine the most effective antibiotic treatment for each case. Now, a point-of-care diagnostic platform can not only detect bacterial presence but also guide clinicians to choose the best antibiotic treatment.

Microplate Dx (Glasgow, UK) has combined novel hardware with proprietary data processing algorithms to develop a rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing platform. Initially aimed at UTIs, the company has already conducted multiple successful clinical trials of its platform. A urine sample is simply added to a cartridge, which is then placed in the device, and results are available in less than an hour. This quick and affordable system aims to eliminate the current practice of 'best-guess' prescriptions, thereby promoting better use of antibiotics and ultimately reducing resistance and saving lives.

The product is currently in its prototype phase, with Microplate Dx planning more clinical trials for 2024/25. The company aims to launch the product in pharmacies across Europe and is also considering entering the US market. Although the company is initially focusing on UTIs, the versatility of its platform opens the doors for expanding to test for other drug-resistant infections like respiratory tract issues, sepsis, meningitis, and fungal infections.

“Our mission at Microplate Dx is to improve the quality of lives for patients by providing antimicrobial stewardship cost-effectively. Any delay in identifying the correct antibiotic for treatment can put lives at risk and huge pressure on clinical decision-making, especially when the antibiotic sensitivity data that Microplate Dx can produce in an hour or less compared to the current approach that can take two days using existing techniques,” said Dr. Stuart Hannah, Microplate Dx CEO. “Early clinical benchmark testing relating to urinary tract infections has been positive and the company now intends to target scale-up both commercially and technically. Early prescribing of appropriate antibiotics to patients, so-called ‘personalized prescribing’, is vital to combat antimicrobial resistance on a global scale, and for serious infections, early intervention will save countless lives.”

Related Links:
Microplate Dx

New
Platinum Supplier
Automatic Nucleic Acid Workstation
Pana9600X
New
Gold Supplier
High-Density Lipoprotein Containing Cholesterol Assay
HDL-c direct FS
New
Pipettors
Corning Lambda EliteTouch
New
One Step Card Test
CerTest Transferrin

Print article
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new assays are designed to run on the B•R•A•H•M•S KRYPTOR compact PLUS clinical chemistry analyzer (Photo courtesy of Thermo Fisher)

Breakthrough Immunoassays to Aid in Risk Assessment of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening blood pressure condition that can arise during pregnancy and the postpartum phase. This severe pregnancy complication is a primary cause of maternal and fetal mortality... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: A CRISPR technology-based diagnostic test detects MPXV in clinical samples with acute precision (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Powerful Diagnostic Tool Accurately Detects Monkeypox Virus Faster Than Any Method

At present, testing for the monkeypox virus (MPXV) is done mainly in centralized labs, and it can take days to get results due to location and logistical issues. Now, researchers have leveraged cutting-edge... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The US FDA has cleared HemoScreen point of care CBC for direct capillary sampling (Photo courtesy of PixCell Medical)

Point of Care CBC Analyzer with Direct Capillary Sampling Enhances Ease-of-Use and Testing Throughput

The world’s only 5-part differential Complete Blood Count (CBC) analyzer that is FDA-cleared, CE-marked, and TGA-approved for point-of-care use has now been granted FDA 510(k) clearance for direct capillary... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Immune cells present long before infection predict flu symptoms (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com)

Single Blood Draw to Detect Immune Cells Present Months before Flu Infection Can Predict Symptoms

For decades, if not centuries, scientists have struggled to solve the mystery of why certain individuals fall ill to infections while others remain unaffected. In an impressive development, researchers... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The Tasso+ device has received CE Mark certification (Photo courtesy of Tasso)

Groundbreaking Blood Lancing Device Obtains Microliter Capillary Whole Blood Samples Painlessly

A convenient, virtually pain-free blood lancet that collects whole liquid blood samples has received CE Mark designation, making the patient-centric, high-volume blood collection solution available in... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: A new electrochemical device can quickly and inexpensively identify people at greatest risk for osteoporosis (Photo courtesy of ACS Central Science, 2023)

Electrochemical Device Identifies People at Higher Risk for Osteoporosis Using Single Blood Drop

With the global increase in life expectancy, the incidence of age-related conditions like osteoporosis is increasing. Osteoporosis, affecting around 200 million individuals worldwide, has a higher incidence... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The global fully automatic electrolyte analyzers market is projected to reach close to USD 0.77 billion by 2032 (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Global Fully Automatic Electrolyte Analyzers Market Driven by Surge in Demand for Point-of-Care Testing

Fully automatic electrolyte analyzers can measure the levels of electrolytes in various bodily fluids like blood and plasma. Electrolytes are ions that have an electrical charge and are essential for multiple... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2023 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.