WARF TECHNOLOGIES

UW-Madison researchers previously described a method of determining whether or not an animal is suffering from a catabolic change by sampling isotope changes in breath or blood.

The researchers now have developed a method of using isotope changes in breath to distinguish bacterial infections from viral infections in humans and other animals. A cavity ringdown spectrometer is used to collect and analyze the isotopes in breath samples taken from a subject over time. A change in the ratio of one stable isotope to another within several hours of exposure to an infectious agent indicates a bacterial infection. On the other hand, a delayed change in isotope ratios, followed by periodic alterations in the ratios, indicates a viral infection.

• Could provide an immediate-response, point-of-care diagnostic test to determine whether a patient is showing signs of illness due to a bacterial or viral infection, or something else
• Could aid in determining if animals have an infection, helping to prevent large outbreaks, which could result in the loss of an entire herd/flock
• May be used to screen large numbers of patients during a suspected bioterror attack

• Non-invasive
• Rapid
• Highly accurate
• Relatively inexpensive
• Easy to use
• May replace tests such the rapid test for Strep A
• Potentially useful in developing countries, where clinics have limited laboratory capabilities
• May detect bacterial infection before a patient has shown signs of infection
• Reduces need for prophylactic antibiotic treatment

Successfully tested in chickens.

Related Intellectual Property

• View Divisional Patent in PDF format.
• View Divisional Patent in PDF format.

Tech Fields

• Medical Devices : Diagnostics & monitoring tools