Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major health threat, with more than 500,000 cases and over 90,000 deaths annually in North America. Each hour of delay in administering the correct antibiotics increases a patient’s risk of death by 7%. However, current diagnostic methods take 24 to 48 hours—or longer—to identify which antibiotics will be effective, leaving clinicians to make critical prescribing decisions with limited lab data. Faster diagnostic tools are needed to reduce errors in antibiotic selection and save lives.

To address this issue, researchers at the University of Calgary and Alberta Precision Laboratories have developed BSIDx, a metabolomics-based diagnostic tool that can provide test results in just five hours. This project aims to evaluate the performance of BSIDx in provincial laboratories and collect the data necessary to support its adoption in Alberta and British Columbia.

Key objectives of the project include:

• refining the BSIDx design to align with the specific needs of provincial healthcare systems;
• conducting direct comparisons between BSIDx and current testing methods to assess accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and turnaround time in clinical lab settings; and
• performing economic and health impact analyses to evaluate the potential benefits of BSIDx adoption.

The study’s primary outcomes will include a comprehensive assessment of BSIDx performance and an evaluation of its impact on patient care and healthcare costs. A key deliverable will be an evidence package for submission to the diagnostic test review committees in Alberta and BC, which oversee the approval of new diagnostic technologies.