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EMPIR project responds to COVID-19 diagnostic need

Image of a scientist recording blood anaysis results in laboratory

Scientist in laboratory

Techniques developed in the project may help with recovery from the pandemic

The techniques being developed in EMPIR project Metrology to enable rapid and accurate clinical measurements in acute management of sepsis (18HLT03, SEPTIMET) are investigating improvements for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. This work may have applications that will help with the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project was originally designed to improve the speed, accuracy and reproducibility of diagnostic tests for the identification and treatment of sepsis. However, some of the measurement challenges are shared with those for managing COVID-19 patients and the project will now include the virus as one of its models.

Methods developed in the project will better enable in vitro diagnostics manufacturers and healthcare providers to demonstrate the accuracy of their technologies for reliable and confident clinical use, including near-patient tests for diagnostics at the point of care. The project will contribute to standards development, with the ultimate objective of faster, more accurate diagnosis for improved patient survival rates in both sepsis and COVID-19.

Many of the participating NMIs are already working on responses to COVID-19 that have been made possible through previous EMRP and EMPIR projects.

Project Coordinator Jim Huggett, National Measurement Laboratory at LGC said

‘The spotlight being placed on COVID-19 diagnosis is clearly demonstrating the importance of measurement science in ensuring patients are correctly identified and supporting the management of this and future pandemics.’

This EMPIR project is co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR Participating States.

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