NEW YORK ─ The US Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has awarded a $733,000 contract to Morrisville, North Carolina-based AAD to develop a system for the early detection of severe infection, including sepsis, the firm said Tuesday.
AAD, also known as Advanced Animal Diagnostics, said it is developing a rapid hematology analyzer, called the QScout RLD+ system, to capture a seven-part leukocyte differential that includes the quantification of band neutrophils and other immature granulocytes. The firm explained that when serious infections are present, mature neutrophils are depleted and neutrophil bands are released. Following that, immature granulocytes are released, and the availability of both automated band and immature granulocyte counts could enable the early identification of infection, including sepsis.
The BARDA infection test development contract ends in 2023, AAD said.