Rapid POC Test for Diagnosis of Preeclampsia Could Prevent Unnecessary Hospitalization

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder that can have devastating effects on the health of the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive and potentially deadly condition. A correct diagnosis of the pregnancy disorder is currently time-consuming and, in many cases, inaccurate. Now, a fast and precise point-of-care test for preeclampsia is being developed that would provide diagnostic certainty and at the same time, save healthcare costs.

MOMM Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) is developing a rapid test for preeclampsia that would offer unprecedented sensitivity at the point-of-care. MOMM develops high-sensitivity rapid diagnostic tests. Immediate information during pregnancy check-ups will help doctors to optimize treatment, reduce stress and anxiety for expectant mothers, save lives and reduce costs. The rapid test for preeclampsia will be based on the company’s technology that combines the commercial advantage of lateral flow immunoassays, with the sensitivity of ELISA, and reader simplicity similar to blood glucose meters.

Image: A new test relies on highly specific biomarkers to diagnose preeclampsia (Photo courtesy of Pexels)

Since pregnant women regularly go to medical check-ups, the test can be carried out at the gynecologist without the need to send blood samples to a specialized diagnostics lab. The rapid screening test for preeclampsia will also spare expectant mothers the long wait for lab results. This will save valuable time and enable treatment to be started quickly. By providing diagnostic certainty, the test would also eliminate the possibility of false positive results by conventional tests that can create unnecessary anxiety for pregnant women.

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