SMART and KKH develop portable device to assess newborn immune function

The device enables real-time analysis using a single drop of blood.

Researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology and KK Women's and Children's Hospital have developed a diagnostic device capable of profiling newborns’ immune function using a single drop of blood.

The device, named BiophysicaL Immune Profiling for Infants (BLIPI), is designed to deliver real-time analysis of immune responses for early detection of severe inflammatory conditions in newborns, including those in neonatal intensive care units.

BLIPI is portable and can be used directly at the patient’s bedside, intended to improve access to immune profiling in hospital settings and resource-limited environments.

Future studies will involve larger clinical trials to validate the BLIPI’s diagnostic accuracy across different neonatal age groups and conditions.

In addition, the research team plans to refine the device for broader clinical adoption.