WA Researchers Near Hospital Rollout of Rapid Newborn Sepsis Blood Test
Funding from Telethon is enabling Western Australian scientists to develop a bedside blood test that could diagnose neonatal sepsis in under 30 minutes.
A team led by Murdoch University’s Andrew Currie and the Child and Adolescent Health Service’s Tobias Strunk is close to finalising a world-first blood test for neonatal sepsis, thanks to ongoing Telethon funding and state backing. The portable analyser identifies specific biomarkers, boosting diagnostic certainty from roughly 60% to 95% and providing results in under 30 minutes at the infant’s bedside. Premature babies, who are especially vulnerable, could receive faster, targeted therapy, improving survival odds and reducing long-term sequelae.
The test also aims to curb the routine use of antibiotics in infants who are not truly septic, addressing both developmental concerns and antimicrobial resistance. Minister for Medical Research Stephen Dawson highlighted the test’s potential to transform newborn care across hospitals.
Why it matters
A faster, more accurate sepsis test could save thousands of newborn lives and reduce harmful antibiotic overuse.
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