Super fast allergy test coming soon
New research at KTH will make allergy tests faster, less painful and less expensive. Complete test results within 15 minutes and small handy testing kits on each paediatrician’s desk, that’s what the researchers want to bring about.
8 percent of all young people in Sweden suffer from some form of food allergy. In the age group 0-10 years this means that there are almost 100 000 Swedish children.
Even in the case of mild allergy symptoms, skin tests are used today for diagnostic purposes, a test that not only takes time but is also painful. They also are perceived by children as particularly unpleasant because the tests are performed on the back, as the arms are not big enough. This means that children have to lie face down for an extended period of time.
“For a one-year-old child scratch tests can be a very traumatic experience, and equally so for parents. If the paediatrician then suspects a serious food allergy, the child must leave a considerable amount of blood, a blood test is also needed where the results often take several days before they arrive and at a significant cost,” says Daniel Hill, a researcher at the School of Electrical Engineering at KTH.
He forms a part of the research project Positive where research is being conducted on new test equipment with biosensors. With this device it is sufficient with one drop of blood and the test result comes very quickly compared to today’s testing methods.
“This is a handy test that can be carried out directly by the paediatrician, and where the results are available within 15 minutes. The cost is low because no samples need to be sent to a lab. The doctor only needs to place a drop of blood and selected food substances in a cartridge and insert this in the test equipment which is no bigger than a shoebox,” Daniel Hill explains.
He adds that, so far the test kits on the market have failed to deal with all desirable requirements: i.e. being able to test the patient for all possible food allergies, making it quick and painless at the same time.
The new test equipment will be able to cope with all of this, and so far, Daniel Hill and his colleagues have come a long way.
“We have tested the material which the sensors will be made of, and we have determined that it is capable of testing ten different food allergies at the same time. The next step is to scale up to hundreds of different allergies, so that all allergies can be tested at the same time,” says Daniel Hill.
He also hopes that there will be an attitude change among those responsible for medical care. Today, a series of tests are being conducted on newborns. Food allergies, which can have serious consequences if not detected early, could be included.
The research project Positive hopes to be able to introduce a commercial product within two years.
For more information, contact Daniel Hill at danhill@kth.se.
Peter Larsson