PROMPT SEPSIS : Partnership for Rapid On-site Microfluidic POC Test for Sepsis ¬¬¬

Sepsis, a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria, affects 18 million people worldwide annually. Symptoms can be non-specific so there are often delays in diagnosis. It is rapidly progressive illness which, if untreated can result in major organs and body systems not functioning and eventually, death. In the UK, sepsis affects up to 64,000 annually - more than breast, bowel and prostate cancers combined. Simple, timely interventions including antibiotics and intravenous fluids can halve the risk of death.Unfortunately, current sepsis tests are unreliable, especially if the onset is rapid. Tests routinely used require a blood sample to be taken and sent to the laboratory, whilst the clinician waits for the results to make a decision. PROMPT-SEPSIS proposes a low-cost, rapid point-of-care diagnostic platform using a finger prick or saliva sample to provide a rapid result to guide clinical decision-making, allowing a potentially lifesaving treatment to commence promptly.