Point-of-care test for Babesia microti
Official title: A Point of Care Test for Babesia microti
Funded at L2 Diagnostics, LLC · NIH-11419590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new rapid test to detect Babesia microti infections right at the patient’s side or when screening donated blood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | L2 Diagnostics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $274,710 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI188960-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with suspected babesiosis or those at risk (e.g., tick exposure, blood transfusion recipients) who could benefit from rapid diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without babesiosis or those in settings where the test is not yet available may not benefit.
What this research studies
Babesia microti is a tick-borne parasite that can cause severe illness; currently there are no rapid bedside tests. This project aims to create a quick antigen-based lateral flow test (like a pregnancy test) that detects aBabesia protein in the blood. The goal is to give doctors and blood banks a fast, accurate tool to diagnose babesiosis and prevent transmission through transfusions. The effort involves developing and validating an antigen capture ELISA and translating it into a point-of-care format suitable for clinical and donation settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians can diagnose babesiosis faster, potentially preventing severe organ damage and transfusion-related spread.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows promise for antigen-based tests, but a robust rapid diagnostic for Babesia microti is not yet standard.
Where this research is happening
-
L2 Diagnostics, LLC
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sutherland, Alan Gordon — L2 Diagnostics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Sutherland, Alan Gordon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.