The benchtop analyzer identifies bacterial infection in urine and provides antibiotic sensitivity information in one hour.

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 18, 2023 — Astek Diagnostics, a medical device startup company based in the University of Maryland BioPark, announced today the successful completion of a pilot study for its novel device, Jiddu. The device is intended to provide rapid, point-of-care diagnosis and antibiotic sensitivity testing for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The pilot study demonstrated high levels of performance of the Jiddu device, with 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity. To develop and execute the pilot, Astek collaborated with Mohan E. Tulapurkar, Dr. rer. nat., a research associate in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The work is supported by two grants, including one from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships program, awarded jointly to Astek and University of Maryland, Baltimore.

“We believe Jiddu has the potential to revolutionize UTI diagnosis and treatment," said Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD, chief executive officer of Astek Diagnostics. “Our benchtop device has shown high efficacy, but it’s also easy for clinicians to use and provides a better alternative to traditional UTI testing.”

UTIs are a common, often painful, condition that affect more than one million people in the United States each year. When patients develop complicated UTIs, or when the condition is left untreated or mistreated, their risk of sepsis, a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, increases. Current UTI testing methods take two days to identify the specific bacteria present and the appropriate antibiotic for treatment. The Jiddu device provides results in under one hour, offering healthcare providers a powerful tool for diagnosis and antibiotic selection.

"We are thrilled to be working with the Astek team to develop and pilot the Jiddu device," said Dr. Tulapurkar. "There is an urgent need for innovative technology that offers faster results for antibiotic sensitivity testing for UTI infections; this is essential for effective treatment and better patient outcomes.”

Astek is targeting a market launch for the Jiddu in late 2024, subject to FDA approval and any other necessary regulatory clearances. For more information about the Jiddu and the company, visit astekdx.com.

About Astek Diagnostics
Astek Diagnostics is a leading innovator in diagnostic solutions, specializing in rapid antibiotic sensitivity testing. Our mission is to revolutionize the way bacterial infections are diagnosed and treated by providing healthcare professionals with cutting-edge diagnostic tools. The Jiddu benchtop analyzer, Astek's flagship product, incorporates a novel method for antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) to swiftly detect bacterial infections in urine samples, assess infection severity, and deliver accurate AST results within an hour. For more information, visit astekdx.com

Media contact:
Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD
[email protected]