Particle Analysis for Bacterial Infection Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections in patients with fever are time-consuming, costly, and often require additional tests beyond white blood cell counting, and the misuse of antibiotics due to delayed diagnosis contributes to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A particle analysis method involving the irradiation of a blood specimen with a fluorescent dye and a hemolytic agent to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections based on scattered light and fluorescence patterns, using a particle analyzer or computer program to classify white blood cells and determine infection type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bacterial culture method is used for definitive diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but diagnostic time is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/biological bacterial culture system with an optical detection system using flow cytometry. The system uses fluorescent dyes to stain neutrophils and detects them optically, substituting the time-consuming biological culture process with rapid optical measurement that provides results within minutes while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from observing bacterial growth over time (culture method) to measuring optical properties (fluorescence intensity and scattered light) of stained neutrophils. By detecting the optical parameters of immune cells that respond to bacterial infection, the system achieves rapid diagnosis without waiting for bacterial culture results.
2Measurement precision
If additional inspection methods such as PCR are used for definite viral infection diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the routine white blood cell classification device multi-functional by adding fluorescent staining capability. The same flow cytometer used for standard WBC differential counting is also used to detect bacterial infection markers, eliminating the need for separate specialized equipment like PCR machines while providing additional diagnostic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the bacterial infection detection function with the routine white blood cell classification process. By staining neutrophils with fluorescent dyes during the standard sample preparation流程, the system simultaneously performs both routine WBC counting and bacterial infection screening in a single integrated workflow.
3Speed
If antibiotics are administered without confirmed bacterial infection, then treatment response time is improved, but antibiotic resistance development is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of bacterial infection markers (activated neutrophils) before antibiotic administration decisions are made. By identifying bacterial infection through fluorescently stained neutrophil detection in the routine WBC classification process, clinicians can make informed decisions about antibiotic necessity, avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use that would contribute to resistance development.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and accurate identification of bacterial or viral infections, reducing the need for extensive testing and minimizing antibiotic misuse, thereby alleviating patient burden and public health risks associated with multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorescent dye that stains a nucleic acid
Implementation Method 2
a hemolytic agent
Implementation Method 3
irradiating light on a measurement sample prepared by mixing a test blood specimen containing particles, collected from a subject, a fluorescent dye that stains a nucleic acid, and a hemolytic agent, thereby acquiring scattered light and fluorescence from each particle contained in the measurement sample
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a particle analysis method for identifying infections, comprising:step A of irradiating light on a measurement sample prepared by mixing a test blood specimen containing particles, collected from a subject, a fluorescent dye that stains a nucleic acid, and a hemolytic agent, thereby acquiring scattered light and fluorescence from each particle contained in the measurement sample,step B of specifying particles that are substantially not contained in blood of control subjects not suffering from infection and are determined to be neutrophils contained in blood of patients with infection, based on the scattered light and the fluorescence, and acquiring particle number information on the specified particles, andstep C of determining whether the test blood specimen is a specimen collected from patients with bacterial infection or a specimen collected from patients with viral infection, based on the particle number information.