DoD, Abbott Form TBI Testing Partnership; Dallas Hack Comments

Healthcare company Abbott and the Defense Department will collaborate to develop blood-testing methods to help clinicians diagnose mild traumatic brain injuries in military personnel.

Abbott said Monday that TBI-related abnormalities are not easily detected because its symptoms can be similar to those found in other medical conditions.

“The quick and accurate diagnosis of a concussion is critical so that soldiers who are affected — whether on the battlefield or not — can be removed from duty to recover and to prevent further injury,” said Col. Dallas Hack, brain health coordinator at the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

DoD and Abbott will explore portable blood tests that could spot concussions and be use with Abbott’s i-STAT System, a handheld medical device designed to electronically record diagnostic results for physician access.

“These new tests could open the door to many possibilities for evaluating concussions and helping clinicians optimize care and outcomes,” said Beth McQuiston, Abbott medical director for diagnotics.