Evaluation, Prototyping and Production Pathway of a Diagnostic for Peritoneal Dialysis Infection

越来越多的人患有肾衰竭，特别是由糖尿病引起的肾衰竭。肾衰竭患者可以有两种类型的透析；腹膜或血液透析。腹膜透析可以在家里进行，给病人最大的自由和灵活性，也比血液透析便宜。然而，它有严重感染的风险，当感染变得明显时，它可能会危及生命。该项目旨在开发一种简单的新测试，可以帮助患者在早期发现感染。这意味着可以更快地开始治疗，更容易地控制感染。该测试还为医疗团队提供了额外的信息，使他们能够选择最佳的治疗方法。这项新测试的想法来自曼彻斯特大学，那里的研究人员一直在研究利用颜色变化反应来检测细菌。Microbiosensor有限公司现在正在努力全面开发这种测试，以及一种制造可靠，易于使用的产品的方法。透析患者参与了产品的设计，并确保它易于使用。在这个项目中，新的测试将被开发出来，这样它就可以被病人测试了。

Increasing numbers of people are suffering from kidney failure, particularly resulting from diabetes. Patients with kidney failure can have two types of dialysis; Peritoneal- or Haemo-dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis can be done at home and gives the patient the most freedom and flexibility, it is also cheaper than haemodialysis. However, it carries a risk of serious infection, and often by the time infection becomes obvious, it can be life-threatening. The project aims to develop a simple new test which can help patients to detect infections at an early stage. This means that treatment could be started more quickly and the infection controlled more easily. The test also gives additional information to the medical team, allowing them to choose the best treatment. The idea for the new test came from the University of Manchester where researchers have been working on detection of bacteria using a colour change reaction. Microbiosensor Ltd are now working to fully develop this test, and a way of manufacturing a reliable, easy to use product. Dialysis patients have been involved in designing the product, and making sure it is easy to use. In this project the new test will be developed so it is ready to be tested by patients.