Finger-Prick Lateral Flow Test Detects Sepsis Biomarkers at Point of Care

Sepsis remains a time-critical condition in which rapid risk assessment is often hindered by reliance on centralized laboratory testing. The global burden is substantial, with an estimated 166 million cases and sepsis-related deaths accounting for 31.5% of worldwide mortality in 2021. Faster frontline detection could support earlier intervention in emergency and critical care settings. A new finger-prick lateral flow prototype aims to simplify assessment in emergency, inpatient, and potentially home environments.

VolitionRx Limited (Henderson, NV, USA) reports successful detection of nucleosomes in capillary blood from critically ill sepsis patients using its finger‑prick lateral flow prototype. Conducted within the SUMMIT program, testing involved capillary samples from hospital patients in Intensive Care and demonstrated that nucleosomes could be detected from a minimally invasive sample. The company has also previously reported correlation between whole venous blood results generated with its lateral flow prototype and those from its established automated Nu.Q nucleosome assay performed in a central laboratory.

The prototype uses a lateral flow test (LFT) format designed to provide immediate analysis from a small patient sample without the need for specialized equipment. Findings demonstrated the feasibility of rapidly detecting early immune disruptions associated with conditions such as sepsis across diverse care settings—including physicians’ offices, emergency departments, intensive care units, and potentially at home—without requiring samples to be sent to a central laboratory.

Volition’s established Nu.Q nucleosome assay is a chemiluminescent immunoassay (ChLIA) that runs on the Immunodiagnostic Systems (IDS) i10 automated analyzer platform. It holds a CE Mark to aid in the detection and evaluation of diseases associated with NETosis and is available in 27 European countries. The company indicates it will share full study details and additional updates throughout the year.

“The ability to rapidly identify high-risk patients at the Point-of-Care by quantifying their nucleosome levels using a finger-prick sample and simple lateral flow device could enable quicker clinical decision making and consequently better patient outcomes,” said Mr. Cameron Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer, Volition.

“This prototype technology has the exciting potential to strengthen our product portfolio by addressing critical unmet diagnostic needs with an accessible, cost-effective solution enabling rapid, minimally invasive, Point-Of-Care self- testing,” said Dr. Gaetan Michel, Chief Operating Officer, Volition.

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