Prototype of Olfactory-Based TBI Kit
Abstract
A common development after a traumatic brain Injury (TBI) is the loss of smell, yet it is often overlooked by doctors who do not test for this condition. Colonel Xydakis research group has shown promising results and argue that the presence of post-traumatic olfactory deficiency be viewed as a serious prognostic clinical sign. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) kit currently used by medical personnel to test patients for anosmia is not intended to diagnose TBI and has a limited shelf life of 6 months. UPSIT uses 40 scratch &sniff items to determine if an individual can correctly identify specific odors. Scores are compared to different patient groups based upon age and sex. Based on Colonel Xydakis research, he has identified 7-10 odors of interest for development of a smell kit for clinical evaluation of TBI. The goal of this effort is to develop an olfactory identification test kit as a point-of-injury (POI) pre-screening device to identify post-traumatic deficits in the sense of smell. This device is expected to provide an early detection of concealed neurologic injury in soldiers with acute TBI resulting from combat blast exposure. Shelf life of the test kit is expected to be 1 year or greater.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 18, 2018
- Source ID
- HU00011710083
Entities
People
- Jian Ling
Organizations
- Southwest Research Institute
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences