First-ever use of Abbott's new diagnostic blood test for traumatic brain injuries

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Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) is the first hospital in the world to use a new, blood test to help assess patients with suspected mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or concussions. The rapid TBI blood test provides results in just 15 minutes and was developed by Abbott, in collaboration with the Department of Defense.

Abbott's i-STAT TBI test provides results in just 15 minutes by checking a patient's blood for two protein biomarkers, GFAP and UCH-L1, that may be present in circulation after suffering a brain injury, released by damaged brain cells. Test results can help rule out the need for a CT scan of the head and assist in determining the best next steps for patient care. 

The TBI blood test could cut down on the need for CT scans. For decades, concussion evaluation has been the same, addressing challenges during CT scans such as time-consuming procedure, cost and associated radiation exposure.