A new rapid test that checks for traumatic brain injuries using a single drop of blood is expected to make its debut in the military in the coming mon

With a drop of blood, this new device will test for TBIs in 15 minutes

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2024-06-05 15:00:08

A new rapid test that checks for traumatic brain injuries using a single drop of blood is expected to make its debut in the military in the coming months.

The product marks one of the most significant steps forward for TBI patients’ care in the past 20 years, Lt. Col. Bradley Dengler, an Army neuroscientist who directs the Military Traumatic Brain Initiative at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, said in a recent release announcing the product’s approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

The test can ascertain whether a person’s blood contains the chemical markers associated with a mild TBI, or concussion, after 15 minutes. In combat, that speed can help military medics quickly decide how to treat an injured service member, avoiding unnecessary evacuations and CT scans and improving TBI case management in the field, officials said.

Earlier tests designed to help diagnose concussions or more severe TBIs rely on blood plasma or serum, and must be processed in a laboratory that can take hours or days to issue results.