The six-minute tests that could save lives

Dr Dylan Barth collecting a dried blood sample while Slade completes the SToP Trial jigsaw puzzle

It takes about five minutes to boil water and brew a pot of tea. Thanks to research, in that time we can now get an answer that could save a child’s life.

Children at risk of potentially life-threatening Strep A infections no longer need to wait up to five days for their results, after The Kids researchers successfully piloted rapid tests that can give patients an answer in just six minutes.

In a study conducted by the Skin Team in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, researchers led by Associate Professor Asha Bowen demonstrated that rapid, molecular point-of-care tests (POCT) can be used in remote settings to accurately detect the presence of Strep A bacterium on the spot.

Found in the throat and on the skin, Strep A is often responsible for sore throats and painful skin infections, which – if left untreated – can lead to irreversible and potentially deadly heart and kidney damage.

Associate Professor Bowen, who is Head of Skin Health at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, said using this cutting-edge technology could prevent serious illness and save many lives.

“This could revolutionise detection and then treatment of Strep A infections in remote Aboriginal communities,” Associate Professor Bowen said.

“In the time it would usually take to get the standard tests processed and results returned to these remote regions, treatment may be missed and the infection potentially spread to others.

“With our study we’ve been able to have the children tested at in-school clinics and the results generated within minutes and then referred on to their GP, who can set them on the right course of treatment.”

Associate Professor Bowen said the study was part of a wider research project aimed at finding the ‘missing piece’ about how Strep A skin sores and sore throats contribute to rheumatic fever. It is hoped POCTs will detect Strep A faster and ultimately prevent kids from developing Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) or the more severe condition Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).

“Aboriginal Australians living remotely have some of the highest rates of rheumatic heart disease in the world, and these areas also face major issues around antimicrobial resistance, so improved testing will make a big difference in advising appropriate medical treatment going forward,” Associate Professor Bowen said.

“If we want to achieve the Endgame Strategy of eliminating RHD by 2031*, then we have to find ways to intervene early – this could be a big part of the answer.”

Associate Professor Bowen said the rapid tests had the potential to do more than just improve rates of Strep A infections – they could also help to strengthen relationships between health care providers and Aboriginal families.

“We found the nurses who work for the local Aboriginal Medical Service, and do regular school visits with our team, are rea

lly excited about getting an immediate result and then being able to connect with families and encourage them to get treatment,” she said.

“The schoolchildren were really engaged, watching the machine generate their results in realtime.

“Already this is a really strong partnership which has allowed us to pair field research with an innovative technology trial that could be a real breakthrough in preventing rheumatic fever in kids.”