Microbiosensor is using the QuickCheck® technology, first developed for peritoneal dialysis patients, to tackle other unmet infection diagnostic needs. For example, with patients who have advanced liver disease (cirrhosis).
Once liver disease progresses to the decompensated stage, patients commonly suffer from a build-up of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Infection of this fluid due to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a significant risk for such patients – and carries a 50% mortality rate in the UK. Current diagnosis often takes over 24-hours and therefore instant diagnosis and an earlier start on treatment could have a major benefit for these patients. QuickCheck® SBP is being developed to tackle this unmet need. We plan to have prototype devices ready for clinical evaluation in 2023.
Recent autopsy data suggest that the prevalence of cirrhosis is between 5% and 9% of the adult population globally. Approximately 50M people globally are thought to have advanced liver disease or cirrhosis.
