Device to sniff out stomach bugs could save NHS millions
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 09:49
Press release issued 5 February 2010
Testing has begun on a device that can sniff out the presence of disease by smell, thanks to a £1.3 million award from the Wellcome Trust.
OdoReader, developed by Chris Probert from the University and Norman Ratcliffe from the University of the West of England, uses pioneering technology to rapidly diagnose Clostridium difficile, by ‘reading’ the odour of stool samples. Clostridium difficile may cause severe diarrhoea, especially amongst hospitalised patients.
With the help of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, the technology enables gasses emitted from faeces to be analysed in under an hour, leading to a rapid and inexpensive diagnosis. Such early detection could reap real health benefits for millions of people and help prevent the spread of infectious disease.