MIT’s sensor uses microfluidics to detect proteins in the blood that act as early warning signs for sepsis. Interleukin-6, for example, appears hours before any other symptoms set in. The device can sense the proteins with less blood than a finger prick.
Ordinary blood test devices are less sensitive to small spikes in protein levels, so they cannot detect the proteins as quickly. Traditional devices also take hours to diagnose sepsis. Newer “point-of-care” systems can diagnose sepsis in 30 minutes, but they require much larger blood samples and cost more money.
The researchers will continue working on the sensor to improve accuracy by developing a full panel of proteins for detection. The sensor could also potentially diagnose other conditions.
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