A rapid test to help treat bacterial infections is taking a major step following a funding boost.
The iFAST test can help patients get the right antibiotic faster. This reduces unnecessary antibiotic use, helping to combat the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
It was first developed by Prof Hywel Morgan at our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, with colleague Dr Daniel Spencer.
The technology is being taken forward by University of Southampton (UoS) spin-out company iFAST Diagnostics. Now, using £5m funding, they intend to bring the first product to the UK market in 2025.
A global problem
AMR is one of the greatest threats to public health worldwide. It is estimated to cause over a million deaths and contribute to around five million deaths every year.
It happens when bacteria change so that an antibiotic can no longer kill them. This leads to hard-to-treat infections that cannot be treated with standard antibiotics.
While AMR occurs naturally, it is accelerated by activities such as the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Getting results faster
Currently, doctors need to send a sample to a laboratory to find out if an antibiotic can be used to treat a bacterial infection. This takes two to three days.
During this time, patients may be prescribed an antibiotic that doesn’t work. Alternatively, they might be given a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can have unwanted side effects.
The iFAST test gives results much faster – in under three hours for blood, and four hours for urine.
A sample of bacteria are briefly grown in the presence of different antibiotics. This is then loaded onto a microfluidic chip, which measures the electrical properties of thousands of individual bacteria.
The test can show if bacteria have been damaged by an antibiotic. This would allow doctors to make an informed decision around which antibiotic to prescribe, potentially saving patients’ lives.
Bringing the technology to market
Toby King, the CEO of iFAST Diagnostics, said: “We are incredibly excited to receive the investment we need to bring our technology to market, just a couple of years after founding the company.
“The thought of saving patients’ lives through them having the correct antibiotic at the right time is hugely motivating for the whole team. I’d like to thank all our existing investors for continuing to support us, and KHP in particular for leading the round, as well as EInk, RAW, and OKG for having the conviction to come on board at this pivotal time for our business.”
Prof Hywel Morgan, Professor of Bioelectronics at UoS, said: “It is wonderful to see iFAST reach this stage, after my team spent over a decade researching how to develop it from an idea to a product.
“We are delighted to see the company now taking this key step towards iFAST becoming widely available in the UK. This could greatly improve patient outcomes and slow antimicrobial resistance.”
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