Medical Devices
Identification of Disease Characteristics Using Isotope Ratios in Breath
WARF: P05416US
Inventors: Warren Porter, Mark Cook, Fariba Assadi-Porter, Daniel Butz
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a method of using isotope changes in breath to distinguish bacterial infections from viral infections in humans and other animals.
Overview
UW-Madison researchers previously described a method of determining whether or not an animal is suffering from a catabolic change by sampling isotope changes in breath or blood.
The Invention
The researchers now have developed a method of using isotope changes in breath to distinguish bacterial infections from viral infections in humans and other animals. A cavity ringdown spectrometer is used to collect and analyze the isotopes in breath samples taken from a subject over time. A change in the ratio of one stable isotope to another within several hours of exposure to an infectious agent indicates a bacterial infection. On the other hand, a delayed change in isotope ratios, followed by periodic alterations in the ratios, indicates a viral infection.
Applications
- Could provide an immediate-response, point-of-care diagnostic test to determine whether a patient is showing signs of illness due to a bacterial or viral infection, or something else
- Could aid in determining if animals have an infection, helping to prevent large outbreaks, which could result in the loss of an entire herd/flock
- May be used to screen large numbers of patients during a suspected bioterror attack
Key Benefits
- Non-invasive
- Rapid
- Highly accurate
- Relatively inexpensive
- Easy to use
- May replace tests such the rapid test for Strep A
- Potentially useful in developing countries, where clinics have limited laboratory capabilities
- May detect bacterial infection before a patient has shown signs of infection
- Reduces need for prophylactic antibiotic treatment
Stage of Development
Successfully tested in chickens.
Additional Information
Related Intellectual Property
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Jeanine Burmania at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9846