According to Scott Barnum, PhD, a professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology, bacterial meningitis infections can be life-threatening and require “immediate intervention and treatment.” But lab tests to diagnose such infections take time and are often inaccurate.
Dr. Barnum and his team at UAB have partnered with Kypha, a company in St. Louis that works with complement proteins and lateral flow assays, to develop a quick and accurate bacterial meningitis test.
“A test that could rapidly and inexpensively discriminate between bacterial and viral meningitis would be a valuable tool for the emergency room physician,” Dr. Barnum told UAB News. “We would love to see the test be used in underdeveloped parts of the world where limited resources prevent timely and accurate diagnosis of most diseases, including meningitis. This is the kind of test we are working to develop in partnership with Kypha.”
More articles on meningitis:
University of Oregon students face meningitis scare
14 people charged in indictment for a 2012 deadly meningitis outbreak
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