In addition to being time consuming, laboratory testing of wounds for potentially harmful infection requires an investment of technical instrumentation and analysis. However, scientists in the UK have developed a new system allowing for rapid detection of infection by simple color change. The Diagnostic Challenge Current wound infection tests typically rely on samples taken from swabs that must be analyzed at a clinical laboratory. By the time an infection is confirmed, the opportunity to treat it in its earliest stages may be lost. While prescribing antibiotics on a prophylactic basis may preserve the opportunity for early treatment in the event of a positive result, it also contributes to overutilization and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. What is needed is an accurate test that can be used to detect whether a wound is infected, rapidly at the point of care. The SPaCE NtP Rapid Test Researchers from the UK have reportedly developed a new test capable of determining whether a wound is infected within 30 to 60 minutes. Created by scientists from the University of Bath, the test uses simple components and processes. The way it works: A swab used to collect a sample from the wound is inserted into a […]