Blood test 'detects sepsis in hours'

A rapid blood test to diagnose blood
poisoning, or sepsis, at the hospital bedside
could potentially save thousands of lives,
say researchers.
Early studies at King's College London suggest
the condition can be diagnosed in two hours
using a simple blood test.
Current diagnostic methods take up to two
days, which may delay treatment with life-
saving antibiotics.
The condition - caused when the body's
immune system overreacts to infection -
causes 37,000 UK deaths each year.
In the study, published in the journal PLOS
ONE , researchers identified a biomarker for
diagnosing sepsis rapidly in blood samples.
It is based on detecting nucleotides specific to
sepsis to rule out similar conditions that can
mimic its symptoms.
A small study at a London hospital and a larger
study in Sweden demonstrated that sepsis
could be diagnosed within two hours, with an
accuracy of 86%.
Lead researcher Prof Graham Lord, director of
the NIHR biomedical research centre at Guy's
and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and
King's College London, told BBC News: "If our
early phase result holds up in a large trial, it
could have significant effects in saving
thousands of lives and reducing the use of
unnecessary antibiotics.
"If we can prove its value in prospective trials,
we can quite rapidly translate it into NHS
clinical care."
He said more research was needed to be done,
but if successful, the test could be available
for use in the NHS in about two years.
UK Sepsis Trust chairman Dr Ron Daniels said
the work paved the way for earlier detection
of sepsis.
"If we had a simple test that would reliably
detect sepsis - particularly in vulnerable
groups - it would significantly improve the
reliability of the delivery of care," he said.
He added: "We still need the suspicion of
sepsis to be present for someone to give the
test."
In September, a report from the health service
ombudsman found significant failings in
treatment of sepsis and said more had to be
done to save the lives of patients.
The National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence will produce guidance for GPs and
clinicians to help them recognise sepsis at an
early stage.