Abbott obtained the Ce mark for a laboratory blood test ‘for traumatic brain injury’, the first to be available on a large scale and which will help clinicians in evaluating people with suspected mild head injury, such as concussions. The test can be performed on Abbott’s ‘Alinity i’ laboratory solution and will produce a result within 18 minutes. It is estimated that around 69 million people around the world suffer head trauma every year. Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, are due to trauma to the head caused by an external force and can have both short and long-term consequences. This test measures specific proteins, known as biomarkers, found in the blood after a suspected head injury.
The test requires a small blood sample taken from the arm, from which the plasma or serum is extracted by centrifugation and is then inserted into the laboratory diagnostic system. ‘Alinity i Tbi Test’ will help healthcare professionals in the objective assessment of patients who may have suffered mild head injury. Most computed tomography scan results required by clinicians to evaluate a suspected brain injury are negative. This blood test can be used as a tool to rule out the need for a CT scan, reducing ER wait times and costs. Abbott also recently received the CE mark for the ‘i-STAT TBI Plasma Test’, the first portable rapid blood test for traumatic brain injury, in line with its future vision to develop a portable test that can also be used outside traditional care environment, i.e. in places where people suffer head injuries and need quick evaluation, such as during sporting events.
The extension of use of the blood test to Abbott’s Alinity i Diagnostic System will expand access to the assessment of mild brain injury, as it is a system widely deployed in laboratories at major trauma centers across Europe. “We are aware that often people with TBI tend to underestimate the accident or are unaware of the signs and symptoms of concussion,” said Beth McQuiston, medical director in Abbott’s diagnostics business. “This test is revolutionary because it provides an objective laboratory result that can help doctors evaluate people with suspected brain injury so that they can take appropriate care.”
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