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University of Queensland researchers are evaluating a novel sepsis diagnostic tool as an aid in differentiating infection-positive (sepsis) from infection-negative (SIRS) systemic inflammation in paediatric patients.

Sepsis infection can lead to organ damage, organ failure or even death. In Australia, it claims 8700 lives a year out of 55,000 cases. Worldwide, 30 million people die from sepsis every year.

Early, accurate diagnosis is crucial to the recovery and survival of sepsis patients. However, traditional tests produce clinically actionable results in 24–48 hours for 20% of all suspected sepsis patients tested.

The new test, , requires two minutes of handling time by clinicians and provides healthcare professionals with clinically actionable results in one hour for 100% of patients tested.

The test generates a score that differentiates sepsis from infection-negative SIRS, thereby curbing unnecessary and detrimental use of antibiotics. It may be performed in virtually any lab setting.

The test has been cleared for use by the US FDA and has received the CE Mark in the EU. Immunexpress, the company developing SeptiCyte RAPID, was founded in Queensland and looks forward to taking the product to market in Australia.

Image credit: iStock.com/Zerbor