Optimising triage in acute oncology
Around 10 million people across the globe receive chemotherapy every year. Individuals undergoing chemotherapy can develop a complication called neutropenic sepsis that, if not treated urgently, rapidly becomes life-threatening. Early antibiotic treatment is critical. If the infection progresses to severe sepsis, risk of death increases by 8% for every hour that antibiotics are delayed [1].
[1] Kumar, A et al. Duration of hypotension before initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy is a critical determinant of survival in human septic shock. Crit Care Med 2006; 34(6): 1589-96.
Can temporarily suppress the immune system
Are the key blood cells suppressed in neutropenic sepsis
Needs to be treated urgently with broad spectrum antibiotics
This means that all chemotherapy patients with a fever are advised to urgently attend the Emergency Room (ER), whether they have neutropenia or not.
Here they will receive intravenous antibiotic treatment whilst awaiting lab results. This leads to many unnecessary trips to hospital and places enormous stress on emergency departments.
1 in 2 patients have normal neutrophils and may not have needed to attend the ER
1 in 2 do not receive antibiotics within the recommended one hour window, risking lives
Neutrocheck® transforms emergency care, making it safer and more effective.
A simple to use finger-prick blood test
Our proprietary device uses a simple finger-prick blood test to simultaneously assess neutrophil count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Used alongside a patient-focused app, Neutrocheck® helps clinicians remotely identify patients at risk of neutropenic sepsis. It offers rapid results to support early intervention and improve patient outcomes. The solution also has the potential to significantly reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
Neutrocheck® is currently being tested in a clinical trial at hospital sites in the UK.
As health systems around the world seek to decentralise care and reduce emergency service burdens, Neutrocheck®’s ability to deliver actionable results in minutes represents a compelling opportunity.