MotoAmerica Becomes First Sports Organization to Use Abbott's Rapid Blood Test for Concussion Evaluation On-site at Races

Rhea-AI Summary

MotoAmerica has become the first professional sports organization globally to implement Abbott's (NYSE: ABT) innovative blood test for concussion evaluation at race events. The i-STAT TBI test, which received FDA clearance in 2024, uses Abbott's portable i-STAT® Alinity® device to analyze whole blood samples and deliver results in just 15 minutes. The test measures two brain-specific biomarkers (UCH-L1 and GFAP) to help determine if a CT scan is needed following a suspected mild traumatic brain injury. This groundbreaking technology will be available at all MotoAmerica races in 2025, starting with the Michelin Raceway Road event in Atlanta (May 2-4). The test requires only a few drops of blood and provides objective data to assist healthcare professionals in making quick, informed decisions about rider safety and treatment needs.

Positive

• First-mover advantage in sports medicine technology implementation
• FDA-cleared technology providing objective concussion assessment in 15 minutes
• Potential to reduce unnecessary CT scans and improve treatment decisions
• Enhanced rider safety protocol with immediate on-site assessment capability

Negative

• Limited to patients 18 years and older
• Requires trained medical staff and ability to run moderately complex testing
• Test must be administered within 24 hours of injury

Insights

Medical Device Analyst

Abbott's concussion blood test adoption by MotoAmerica demonstrates real-world validation of their diagnostic technology with modest business impact.

Abbott's partnership with MotoAmerica represents a significant implementation milestone for their i-STAT TBI test following its 2024 FDA clearance for whole blood testing. The technology delivers actionable results in just 15 minutes, addressing a critical clinical need in a high-profile setting where immediate assessment is vital.

This diagnostic advancement targets a substantial market, with the CDC reporting approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits for TBIs annually. The test measures two brain-specific biomarkers (UCH-L1 and GFAP) that indicate significant brain injury, potentially reducing unnecessary CT scans while improving assessment accuracy.

The collaboration with MotoAmerica serves as an important proof-of-concept in a demanding real-world environment. Abbott's development partnerships with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and the TRACK-TBI initiative suggest additional applications beyond sports medicine.

The press release also mentions ongoing research to evaluate feasibility for teen and pediatric applications, which could expand the addressable market if successful. While no financial terms were disclosed, this implementation aligns with Abbott's strategic focus on expanding point-of-care diagnostic applications where rapid, objective data can improve clinical decision-making.

Sports Medicine Expert

First objective point-of-care concussion test transforms sports medicine by enabling rapid, evidence-based decisions that traditional subjective assessments can't provide.

The adoption of Abbott's i-STAT TBI blood test by MotoAmerica establishes a new benchmark in sports concussion protocols. This technology addresses a fundamental limitation in trauma care - the reliance on subjective assessment tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale.

The clinical significance cannot be overstated. As Dr. Price, MotoAmerica's Chief Medical Officer, notes, this is "the first ever objective test that physicians have had at the point-of-care to assist in the assessment of concussions." The 15-minute turnaround time enables critical decisions about CT scans and further evaluation to be made immediately trackside.

The test works by measuring two specific biomarkers - UCH-L1 and GFAP - that are released following significant brain trauma, providing quantifiable data rather than relying solely on visible symptoms or athlete self-reporting. This represents a paradigm shift in on-site concussion management.

MotoAmerica's implementation integrates this diagnostic capability with their existing safety infrastructure of airbag-equipped suits, specialized helmets, and track barriers. Beginning with their 2025 season opener in Atlanta, this makes them the first professional sports organization worldwide to implement this technology.

While currently limited to adults 18 and older, the press release indicates ongoing research for potential applications in younger populations, which could eventually transform concussion management across all age groups and competitive levels.

• The test, run on Abbott's portable i-STAT^® Alinity^® hand-held instrument, uses whole blood to help evaluate patients 18 years of age and older with a suspected mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, producing lab-quality results in 15 minutes
• The test will be used by healthcare professionals in the medical facilities at all MotoAmerica races in 2025

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., and IRVINE, Calif., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT), the global healthcare company, and MotoAmerica, the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America, announced today that MotoAmerica is the first professional sports organization worldwide to use Abbott's groundbreaking blood test to help assess suspected concussions for riders in the on-site medical facilities at all races.

Abbott's test, the i-STAT TBI test cartridge, is used to evaluate patients 18 years of age and older who present with suspected mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It provides results in 15 minutes and may be used up to 24 hours after injury to help determine the need for a CT scan of the head.  In 2024, Abbott's i-STAT TBI test received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used with whole blood, allowing doctors to quickly assess patients with suspected mTBI on the handheld i-STAT Alinity analyzer at the patient's side.

"This is the first ever objective test that physicians have had at the point-of-care to assist in the assessment of concussions – it changes the game," said Carl Price, M.D., chief medical officer for MotoAmerica. "If a crash or fall does happen, the ability to quickly and objectively determine whether or not a rider needs a CT scan or additional evaluation, right there on-site, provides us—and our riders—with peace of mind."

The i-STAT TBI test cartridge will be available in on-site medical facilities for all MotoAmerica races across the U.S. during the 2025 season, beginning with the race at Michelin Raceway Road in Atlanta, Ga. (May 2-4).

"As both a neurologist and licensed physician, I know firsthand the limitations of relying on a subjective tool like the Glasgow Coma Scale in the assessment of brain injury," said Beth McQuiston, M.D., medical director in Abbott's diagnostics business. "The ability to objectively assess the need for a head CT scan following potential brain injury right at the point of care, whether that be at a hospital bedside or an on-site medical facility at a sporting event, means quick assessment and a quick path to the right treatment."

At MotoAmerica, riders wear comprehensive protection, including airbag-equipped suits that inflate on impact, helmets tested for multiple impact forces, and full-body armor. The tracks also feature air fence barriers and a dedicated medical safety car. In the event of a crash or fall, immediate on-site assessment adds an extra layer of safety to determine if a rider requires a CT scan or further evaluation.

"The standard of competition and performance in MotoAmerica continues to increase," said Chuck Aksland, chief operating officer, MotoAmerica. "Between the riders, the motorcycles, their gear, and now accessibility to the most innovative medical equipment, we continue to push our standards and practices to better protect our racers. Our use of Abbott's rapid blood test for concussion assessment furthers this commitment and will help us evaluate medical needs quickly and on location."

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), traumatic brain injury from accidents or sports is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 2.5 million people visit the emergency department for TBIs every year.

How the test works
The i-STAT TBI test cartridge with the i-STAT Alinity System requires a small venous blood sample – just a few drops applied to the test cartridge. The cartridge is then inserted into the portable i-STAT Alinity instrument. The test measures two brain-specific biomarkers that are released into the blood stream when there is a significant brain injury. If neither of these biomarkers measured are above an established cutoff, a significant injury has likely not occurred, and a CT scan can likely be avoided. Testing for these two biomarkers – ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) – following an injury can provide essential and objective information about a patient's condition and can help healthcare providers decide an appropriate treatment plan.

The test was developed by Abbott, with support from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's (USAMRDC) U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) and in collaboration with Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI).

The ability to use whole blood to help assess patients with suspected mTBI is an important step in Abbott's vision to make its tests available in all settings where people seek care for head injuries.  Today, the test is available to be used by hospitals, clinics, and any athletic organization with trained medical staff on-site and the ability to run moderately complex testing. Research and planning are ongoing to determine the feasibility of using these biomarkers similarly in teens and children.

About MotoAmerica:
MotoAmerica is officially sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and it features nine classes of motorcycle road racing: Superbike, Supersport, King of the Baggers, Talent Cup, Super Hooligan, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Build. Train. Race. and Mini Cup.

About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Youtube.

The i-STAT TBI test cartridge was developed with support by the U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's (USAMRDC) U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA). The USAMRDC has been dedicated to developing a solution for the objective detection and evaluation of TBI for more than two decades and has played a critical role in developing the TBI test on Abbott's i-STAT Alinity platform. (Reference to USAMRDC and USAMMDA does not imply or constitute endorsement by these organizations or by the Department of Defense or the U.S. Army.)

The Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) research team was the first to demonstrate how this TBI blood test can be used for the benefit of TBI patients in clinical care.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/motoamerica-becomes-first-sports-organization-to-use-abbotts-rapid-blood-test-for-concussion-evaluation-on-site-at-races-302444065.html

SOURCE Abbott

FAQ

What is Abbott's new i-STAT TBI blood test for concussion evaluation?

Abbott's i-STAT TBI test is an FDA-cleared blood test that measures two brain-specific biomarkers (UCH-L1 and GFAP) to help assess suspected concussions. It provides results in 15 minutes using a portable device and helps determine if a CT scan is needed.

When will MotoAmerica start using Abbott's concussion blood test?

MotoAmerica will begin using Abbott's concussion blood test at all races during the 2025 season, starting with the race at Michelin Raceway Road in Atlanta, GA (May 2-4).

How does Abbott's i-STAT TBI concussion test work?

The test requires a small venous blood sample applied to a test cartridge, which is inserted into the portable i-STAT Alinity instrument. It measures two brain biomarkers to determine if significant brain injury has occurred, providing results in 15 minutes.

What are the limitations of Abbott's concussion blood test?

The test can only be used for patients 18 years and older, must be administered within 24 hours of injury, and requires trained medical staff with the ability to perform moderately complex testing.

How will Abbott's concussion test benefit MotoAmerica riders?

The test provides quick, objective assessment of potential brain injuries right at the race site, helping determine if riders need CT scans or further evaluation, adding an extra layer of safety to MotoAmerica's existing protection measures.