Development of a Tool to Enhance Diagnostics for Traumatic Brain Injury: Linda Papa, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCP(C), FACEP

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

"When we first started doing this research about 25 years ago, our vision was to have a tool, like a glucometer when people measure their blood glucose, to be able to tell us what was going on in the brain, give us an idea."

In April 2024, the FDA cleared Abbott's i-STAT traumatic brain injury (TBI) cartridge test to be used to assess patients with suspected mild TBIs, known as concussions, at their bedside.¹ The whole blood test, a portable instrument, evaluates patients aged 18 years and older who report a suspected mild TBI. Results from the test can assist in ruling out the need for a CT scan of the head and help with determining the next steps of care for the patient. The testing, which is done with whole blood samples, can take place at healthcare settings without a lab.

According to a new announcement, Orlando Health became the first hospital system in the world to use Abbott’s i-STAT TBI cartridge test. The rapid TBI blood test offers results for clinicians in approximately 15 minutes and was built upon innovative research that Orlando Health’s Linda Papa, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCP(C), FACEP, and colleagues assisted to pioneer over 20 years ago. With this new test in the hospital setting, Orlando Health clinicians in the emergency department can quickly assess patients during critical moments when every second counts.²

Following the news, Papa, an emergency medicine physician and the director of academic clinical research at Orlando Health, sat down in an interview with NeurologyLive^® to have a conversation about how the 2 biomarkers in the blood plasma and serum, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein, contribute to the diagnosis of TBI. She also talked about the potential future applications of this TBI diagnostic tool beyond its current FDA indication. Furthermore, Papa spoke about the challenges involved in adapting this test for use in pediatric and older patients.

REFERENCES
1. Abbott Receives FDA Clearance for Whole Blood Rapid Test to Help with Assessment of Concussion at the Patient's Bedside. News Release. Abbott. Published April 1, 2024. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2024-04-01-Abbott-Receives-FDA-Clearance-for-Whole-Blood-Rapid-Test-to-Help-with-Assessment-of-Concussion-at-the-Patients-Bedside
2. Orlando Health First in the World to Use Abbotts New Blood Test for Traumatic Brain Injuries. News Release. August 13, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/orlando-health-first-in-the-world-to-use-abbotts-new-blood-test-for-traumatic-brain-injuries