Innovative Bedside Test Achieves Over 90% Accuracy in Sepsis Prediction

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have developed a groundbreaking blood test and portable device that significantly accelerates the detection of sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection. Published in Nature Communications, this new test demonstrates an accuracy rate exceeding 90% in identifying patients at high risk of developing sepsis, marking a major advance in critical care diagnostics.

Sepsis accounts for approximately 20% of all deaths worldwide, underscoring the urgency for rapid detection methods. Traditionally, diagnosing sepsis can take up to 18 hours, often requiring specialized laboratory facilities, which delays treatment and increases mortality risk. The new approach utilizes machine learning algorithms analyzing blood samples to predict sepsis before clinical symptoms fully manifest.

In a study involving over 3,000 hospital patients with suspected sepsis, researchers identified a six-gene expression signature, called "Sepset," which reliably predicted the onset of sepsis nine times out of ten. Combining this gene signature with Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), the test achieved 94% accuracy in early detection, allowing for quicker intervention.

To bring this technology closer to bedside use, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) developed PowerBlade, a portable device that uses a tiny blood sample and automated process to detect sepsis swiftly. In trials with 30 patients, PowerBlade demonstrated 92% accuracy in identifying high-risk individuals and 89% in ruling out low-risk patients, providing results in under three hours. This rapid turnaround could revolutionize emergency care and remote healthcare settings.

The interdisciplinary collaboration behind this innovation integrates advances in microfluidics, engineering, and biology, enabling accessible and portable diagnostics. The Sepset testing platform is currently under commercial development, promising to empower clinicians with early warning tools and improve patient outcomes.

These advancements highlight the vital role of artificial intelligence and microfluidic technology in transforming critical care diagnostics and offering hope for reducing sepsis-related mortality worldwide. Source: medicalxpress.com