Rapid test enables early diagnosis of preeclampsia

A new rapid test for the early diagnosis of preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy, has been developed by researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Described in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the test is said to be significantly faster and more accurate than current methods.

Preeclampsia is a condition that affects around 4–8% of all pregnancies and is characterised by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and damage to organs such as the kidney and liver in the second half of pregnancy. It can lead to serious complications, or loss of life, for both mother and baby if left untreated.

Currently, the diagnosis of preeclampsia involves measuring blood pressure and testing for protein in the urine, along with other clinical signs and symptoms. Adding to the complexity is the fact that preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease with varying symptoms and features, so the diagnosis can be missed or delayed, particularly for those living in rural and remote areas.

The new strip-based lateral flow assay uses innovative nanoparticle-based technology to detect the concentration of specific biomarkers present in the blood plasma of women with preeclampsia. The novel protein biomarkers, called FKBPL and CD44, were discovered by Associate Professor Lana McClements, while development of the nanophotonic platform used in the rapid test was led by Distinguished Professor Dayong Jin.

“This is a major advance over current methods of diagnosis, which can be unreliable and time-consuming,” McClements said. “Our test has the potential to make a real difference for both mothers and babies.”

The research team conducted a study using clinical samples in collaboration with the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne to validate the effectiveness of the test. They found that the test showed significantly improved sensitivity (90.5% vs 73.7%) and specificity (100% vs 92.3%) compared to the most up-to-date method currently available.

“We believe this test has the potential to revolutionise the way preeclampsia is diagnosed and managed,” McClements said, noting that the new test can produce results within 15 minutes and is highly sensitive and specific. Furthermore, the test can be performed at the point of care, such as a prenatal clinic or doctor’s office.

“This essentially gives clinicians the ability to make immediate and life-saving informed decisions, and not wait 24 hours for the results to come back.”

In addition to the new test, the novel biomarkers also show potential as drug and cell therapy targets of emerging treatments for preeclampsia. This offers hope for a future cure, McClements said, which would be a boon given that the only known cure at present is delivery of the baby.

The research team is now working to commercialise the test in collaboration with industry partners and hopes to eventually make it widely available to healthcare providers around the world.

Image credit: iStock.com/Natalia Kuzina