Low cost diagnostic bilirubin assay for Kernicterus prevention

SME based in North-eastern Italy has developed an innovative diagnostic device, conceived as a Point Of Care test for measuring total bilirubin concentration in whole blood samples from newborns. The companies is willing to get in contact with SMEs and R&D institutions to improve the technology currently used, in the frame of research, technical cooperation and manufacturing agreements.

Neonatal hyper-bilirubinemia occurs in more than 60% of term newborns and is characterized by a peak of serum bilirubin between the 3-5th day of life, returning to normal values ​​in about 2 weeks. In some cases, the level of bilirubin in the blood remains too high even longer, leading to severe hyper-bilirubinemia in about 10% of the jaundice infants.If caught in time, the most common treatment is photo-therapy, but if not the baby risks to develop kernicterus, an irreversible pathology characterized by a severe disability due to neurological damage. This creates the need for a system able to control the levels of bilirubin during the first days after birth in a simple and quick way. Therefore a company based in North-eastern Italy has developed a test strip, where a small amount of blood is loaded and a reader analyzes the sample and shows the result. Thanks to the easy method, the small size and the use of a battery powered reader, the system does not require availability of highly qualified staff or equipped facilities for analysis, making diagnosis and monitoring of neonatal jaundice, a simple practice even outside hospital, such as during home follow up or in physician offices. The Italian company looks for SMES, R&D institutions and universities that could be interested in cooperation in terms of: -Research: development of a method for correction of hemoglobin interference on Bilistick results. - Technical: the Bilistick reader uses the same electronics since 8 years ago.Tthe company looks for a cooperation that allows the re-desinging of the electronics, updating the reader according to the current electronic technology. - Manufacturing: the company looks for a partner to re-desing the new Bilistick version from aesthetic and usability point of view.