NEW YORK ─ CARB-X said on Tuesday that it is awarding Accelerate Diagnostics up to $578,000 to develop fiber optic technology to diagnose sepsis or the risk of sepsis.
If the project meets certain milestones and funds are available, Accelerate would be eligible to receive up to $2.1 million in additional funds, CARB-X said.
The CARB-X award is supporting the development of a compact instrument and research into the possible application of fiber optic technology, called stimulated Raman spectroscopy, to identify bacteria. Bacteria could be identified within 15 minutes from a positive blood culture with minimal sample processing, CARB-X said, adding that the technology has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity and is able to identify a wide range of pathogens, which is currently not possible with panel tests.
"Prompt diagnosis and treatment provide the best chance for reducing death rates and improving recovery from sepsis," Erin Duffy, R&D chief of CARB-X, said in a statement, adding, "Accelerate's technology aims to speed up delivery of diagnostic test results which would help clinicians make treatment decisions in the first critical hours of illness."
CARB-X is a global partnership led by Boston University to support the development of therapeutics, preventatives, and diagnostic tests to address antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
The project involving Tucson, Arizona-based Accelerate Diagnostics is in the feasibility phase of development.