North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) announced on Mar. 4 that it has become the first hospital in New York State to use a new rapid blood test to assess traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, in its emergency department.
The introduction of this test is significant because it allows for faster and more accurate triage of patients with suspected brain injuries, potentially improving both patient care and staff efficiency. The tool, Abbott’s i-STAT Alinity TBI test, can detect two specific biomarkers of traumatic brain injury within 15 minutes using whole blood. This innovation reduces the time needed to rule out significant injury from three and a half hours to just thirty minutes at NSUH.
Chidubem Iloabachie, MD, associate chair of emergency medicine at NSUH who helped oversee the program, said: “This rapid turnaround to assess for brain injuries is a game-changer. It reduces wait times for patients to receive results and can decrease treatment and release length of stay, which is critical in a busy emergency department, as well as for the patient’s well-being.”
According to a 2016 study cited by the hospital’s announcement, nearly five million people visit U.S. emergency departments each year with mild traumatic brain injury symptoms and most undergo CT scans—82% of cases—despite many not requiring them. The new blood test measures GFAP and UCH-L1 proteins released into the bloodstream after head trauma; elevated levels indicate potential injury up to 24 hours post-event.
Beth McQuiston, MD, RD, medical director for Abbott’s diagnostics business said: “Concussions are invisible injuries, and Abbott’s i-STAT TBI test makes the invisible visible. For the first time ever, doctors at NSUH are armed with a fast, reliable blood test for the brain. This is a significant advancement in the standard of care for the thousands of TBI patients who visit NSUH’s emergency department each year.”
NSUH reported that its initial three-month validation trial included 107 low-risk adult patients and demonstrated safe and accurate results with just two drops of blood required per cartridge. The portable device could eventually be used outside hospitals at locations like sporting events or nursing facilities.
NSUH serves more than 90,000 patients annually as one of New York Metropolitan area’s busiest Level I trauma centers.
