Invention:
This technology is for a novel lateral flow strip (LFS) diagnostic assay for early diagnosis of preeclampsia in prenatal care. This point-of-care test aims to measure the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio within the blood in order to determine preeclampsia risks in a timely manner. A mobile app assists with automated risk stratification and and remote clinical consultation. This rapid, cost-effective, point-of-care diagnostic can be used in home settings, rural areas, and in low-resource healthcare facilities without a laboratory.
Background:
Preeclampsia, also known as toxemia, is a rapidly progressive disorder that is characterized by elevated blood pressure and excessive protein in the urine of pregnant women that can potentially lead to organ damage in the liver and/or kidneys. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the incidence of preeclampsia ranges between 2% and 10% of pregnancies worldwide and it is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Pre-existing diagnostic kits typically utilize ELISA assays that require expensive instrumentation in laboratories, while failing to provide cost-effective testing or scalable opportunities. This novel dual-biomarker diagnostic assay uses a lateral flow strip for fast, scalable diagnosis of preeclampsia without laboratory dependency.
Applications:
- Preeclampsia diagnostic
- Women’s health
- Point-of-care diagnostics
Advantages:
- Cost-effective method with scalable possibilities
- Rapid results
- Accessible point-of-care testing for home and areas where labs are not accessible
- Minimized sample size required for testing
- Detection of two novel biomarkers
- Ability for smart device integration
- Advances maternal health initiatives; potential to reduce preeclampsia-related mortality
