Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a way to speed up detections of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RMSF is a potentially life-threatening disease spread by infected ticks.
The new test can identify the bacteria in about 40 minutes using a simple two-step process that doesn’t require costly lab equipment, as older diagnostic tools can be extremely expensive and are sometimes unable to detect small amounts of bacteria in blood samples.
Researchers say quicker diagnosis means patients can begin treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline {Dox-ih-sigh-clean} sooner, which could improve outcomes and make testing more accessible.