AB x Sure for differentiating bacterial from viral Infection

Abstract Bacterial and Viral infections have identical symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose based on visible symptoms. This results in the overprescription of antibiotics, even in cases of viral infections, to avoid missing bacterial infections that could progress into a more severe condition and/or sepsis. This diagnostic gap contributes to the overuse of antimicrobials. To address the issue, a deployable diagnostic test has been developed and evaluated that can help differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. The approach is centred on three crucial biological markers: CD64 expression on leukocytes to detect bacterial infections, CD169 expression on leukocytes to detect viral infections and total leukocyte count as a general health indicator of the patient. AB x Sure comprises a cartridge for sample processing, a device with in-built pneumatics, and an optical reader for quantifying biomarkers from blood. The AB x Sure performance was tested and compared with a commercial plate reader and flow cytometer, yielding a promising correlation of 0.89. This comprehensive test will potentially provide clinicians with valuable information for effective and timely treatment.