i-STAT TBI Cartridge

i-STAT TBI Cartridge

Traumatic brain injury biomarker panel for evaluating suspected mild TBI

Product overview

The i-STAT TBI cartridge is the first point-of-care test that measures biomarkers associated with brain injury in whole blood. It quantifies both GFAP and UCH-L1 to help assess patients with suspected mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) within 24 hours of injury. Results are available in 15 minutes, providing objective data to assist clinicians in determining whether a CT scan of the head is needed. With approximately 4.8 million TBI evaluations occurring annually in the United States, and 82% of CT scans for these cases showing no clinically significant abnormality, there is a substantial opportunity to reduce unnecessary imaging while still identifying patients who need intervention.

Expand your point-of-care testing capacity with refurbished i-STAT analyzers

If your facility relies on the Abbott i-STAT system for point-of-care testing, Block Scientific can help you increase your testing capacity at a fraction of the cost of buying new. The Abbott i-STAT is one of Block Scientific's Centers of Excellence analyzers, which means we carry deep inventory, provide factory-level refurbishment, and back every unit with comprehensive service and support.

Adding refurbished i-STAT 1 or i-STAT Alinity instruments to your fleet lets you deploy more analyzers across departments, satellite locations, or mobile units without the capital outlay of purchasing new. Every refurbished i-STAT from Block Scientific is thoroughly tested, calibrated, and verified to meet original manufacturer specifications before it ships.

And when you bundle your cartridge and consumable orders with refurbished instrumentation, you get the best possible pricing on both. Complete the form on this page and your local sales rep will contact you to discuss your application.

Clinical evidence

Clinical studies have demonstrated that the i-STAT TBI test achieves a 96.5% negative predictive value (NPV), meaning that a 'Not Elevated' result provides strong confidence that no acute traumatic intracranial lesion requiring intervention is present. In clinical use, the test has been shown to reduce CT scan utilization by up to 40% without missing clinically important findings. The two biomarkers provide complementary information about different injury mechanisms: UCH-L1 is released primarily from neurons and peaks within 0 to 8 hours after injury, making it most informative in the acute window. GFAP is released from astrocytes and peaks around 20 hours post-injury, extending the detection window beyond what UCH-L1 alone would provide. This dual-biomarker approach captures both early neuronal damage and delayed glial response.

Clinical applications

Used in the evaluation of patients 18 years of age or older presenting with suspected mild traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15). Clinical criteria include any period of loss of consciousness, memory loss surrounding the event, alteration in mental state, or focal neurological deficits within 24 hours of injury. A 'Not Elevated' result is associated with the absence of acute traumatic intracranial lesions on head CT. The test gives emergency physicians an objective, blood-based data point to incorporate into their clinical decision-making alongside traditional assessment tools like the Canadian CT Head Rule.

What does the i-STAT TBI Cartridge measure?

Category: Traumatic Brain Injury

• GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein)
• UCH-L1 (ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1)

Specifications

Intended use

A panel of in vitro diagnostic immunoassays for the quantitative measurements of GFAP and UCH-L1 in whole blood and a semi-quantitative interpretation of test results. Used to aid in the evaluation of patients with suspected mild traumatic brain injury to assist in determining the need for a CT scan of the head.

The Abbott i-STAT is a Block Scientific center of excellence

Block Scientific has designated the Abbott i-STAT as one of its Centers of Excellence - a select group of analyzer platforms where we provide the highest level of expertise, inventory depth, and service capability. When you purchase a refurbished i-STAT from Block Scientific, you get the benefit of more than 45 years of laboratory equipment experience, dedicated technical support, and a team that knows the i-STAT platform inside and out.

Whether you need a single replacement unit, want to expand your POC testing footprint across multiple departments, or are looking for the best price on cartridges and consumables, Block Scientific is the partner that can make it happen at a cost that works for your budget.

Ready to get started?

Complete the form on this page and your local sales rep will contact you to discuss your application. Whether you are ordering cartridges, looking at refurbished i-STAT analyzers, or want to bundle both for the best pricing, we are here to help.