New frontiers in in vitro medical diagnostics by low field T2 magnetic resonance relaxometry

NMR relaxometry is a powerful technique used to study and measure the relaxation rates of nuclear spins in complex environments. The relaxation rates depend strongly on the mobility of the microscopic environment and the strength of the applied magnetic field. T2 Biosystems has developed the T2 Magnetic Resonance (T2MR) platform, which enables the detection and measurement of a variety of diagnostic targets, including molecular targets (DNA, RNA), immunodiagnostics (proteins, small molecules) and a broad range of functional hemostasis measurements. This methodology enables a first-in-class, fully-automated test for fungal sepsis and has a limit of detection as low as 1 CFU/mL, compared to the 100 to 1,000 CFU/mL achieved by PCR-based in vitro diagnostics. Results indicate this sensitive and rapid test may significantly reduce the high mortality and the high cost of care for Candida infections. T2MR technology is also being used investigationally to evaluate hemostasis disorders, which require diagnostic identification and monitoring for both acute and chronic conditions that range from traumatic injury to routine monitoring of anticoagulant therapy, evaluation of clotting diseases and evaluation of bleeding disorders.T2MR measurements enable a comprehensive assessment of a patient's hemostasis status by determining multiple parameters including clotting times, platelet function, fibrinogen, and fibrinolysis from a single sample with data analysis beginning in as short as 5 minutes at the point of care using just 40 microliters of blood. By providing a rapid and accurate global assessment of a patient's hemostasis state, T2MR has the potential to significantly assist with the active management of hemostasis disorders while reducing both healthcare costs and mortality. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.