TTP and ODx Innovation, Inverness, have developed a phenotyping platform that detects urinary tract infections and identifies the sensitivity of the infection to a range of antibiotics. Detection of bacterial infections at a concentration of 10⁵ cfu within 10-20 minutes has been demonstrated with calling of antibiotic susceptibility to 6 common antibiotics within 60 minutes. 

The system has been taken to the stage of pre-clinical Beta units and disposables and has been demonstrated with a wide range of samples. The owners of the platform and IP are now looking to engage interested parties to take this exciting technology from its current state of development to the clinic. 

UTI’s have a major impact on the health of millions and approaches to rapidly detect and provide effective treatment would have a major impact on healthcare and ultimately help reduce the emergence of further antibiotic-resistant strains. 

Initially generated by the University of St Andrews, ODx’s proprietary detection technology relies on monitoring a signal related to the growth of bacteria in a sample. TTP and ODx have further developed the technology to measure multiple antibiotic susceptibilities concurrently using the same input sample. 

The instrument monitors optical scatter of light passing through the sample over time to detect bacterial growth associated with an infection and determine the best treatment course. The cartridge is designed for easy filling and allows for different antibiotic panels and concentrations to be tested, depending upon geography. 

The system provides simplicity for the end user: once the urine is loaded and the cartridge placed in the instrument, careful fluidic control automatically clarifies the sample and delivers it to individual chambers that are pre-loaded with antibiotic, where the sample is then monitored over time. 

Examples (of processed output) are shown in the graphs below: 

Example output 1: in this case the UTI is only sensitive to Ciprofloxacin. 

Example 2: in this case, the UTI is sensitive to a number of antibiotics. 

TTP and ODx have developed this detection technology over a number of years, through close collaboration of a multi-skilled team covering biology, microfluidics, optics, human factors and engineering capabilities. The resulting platform, development of which continues, has the potential to transform the way infections are treated in the clinic.  

Performance 

In testing of the current systems with over 1700 human samples, concordance with central lab tests for presence of bacteria and for trimethoprim, fosfomycin, and nitrofurantoin susceptibility has been demonstrated to be over 95%, with results typically being delivered within 60 minutes. 

Opportunity

The technology is at a mature level of demonstration and ready to enter a final stage of development to reach clinical use.

The owners of the platform and IP are now looking to engage interested parties to take this exciting technology from its current state of development to the clinic. Please contact diagnostics@ttp.com if you are interested in this opportunity. 

Piers Harding, Programme Manager at TTP, commented: "Developing a system that actively addresses the antibiotic resistance issue is particularly rewarding as it has the potential to make a significant difference to the way infections are diagnosed and treated. 

This has the opportunity to be a truly transformative product in the field of management of UTIs – being able to provide guidance on treatment in 60 minutes and enable rapid confirmation of disease is an urgent need throughout the world.

Giles Sanders, Head of Diagnostics
TTP plc

Developing a system that actively addresses the antibiotic resistance issue is particularly rewarding as it has the potential to make a significant difference to the way infections are diagnosed and treated.

Piers Harding, Programme Manager
TTP plc