Abbott, Department of Defense to develop blood test for concussion evaluation

Abbott and the U.S. Department of Defense have announced a collaboration to develop portable blood tests that could help evaluate individuals with possible concussions, also known as mild traumatic brain injuries.

The tests would be developed for Abbott’s i-STAT System as part of a multi-phased approach, according to a company press release. Currently, the handheld diagnostic analyzer is used for other point-of-care testing in individuals, including members of the military.

Detection of mild traumatic brain injuries can, at times, be difficult because imaging technology may not always show abnormalities, and symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, according to the release.

“The collaboration between Abbott and the Department of Defense is an important step in ensuring that military service members, and ultimately civilians, receive proper evaluation,” Beth McQuiston, MD, a board-certified neurologist and medical director of diagnostics for Abbott, said in the press release. “These new tests could open the door to many possibilities for evaluating concussions and helping clinicians optimize care and outcomes.”

Mild traumatic brain injuries are caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Research suggests these disruptions lead to the release of certain proteins into the blood stream.

They are common in U.S. military service members, with more than 300,000 service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries since 2000. Many of these injuries occur during training, accidents, illnesses and non-combat assignments, according to the release.