Real-world evidence for NHS adoption of a point-of-care blood test for pre-hospital identification of stroke patients suitable for thrombectomy treatement (LVOne-Pathway) - SBRI Phase 3

A blood test performed in an ambulance could determine, within minutes, whether a stroke patient has a large clot that requires emergency surgical removal. Currently, paramedics have no way to identify these patients before reaching hospital, causing critical delays in treatment. This matters because thrombectomy—the removal of a clot from a brain artery—is highly time-sensitive. Every minute lost reduces the chance of a good recovery. The test, developed by Upfront Diagnostics, aims to flag suitable candidates during the ambulance journey, so hospitals can prepare the specialist team and equipment before the patient arrives. If the test proves accurate and practical in this real-world study, it could reshape stroke care pathways across the NHS. Ambulance crews would bypass smaller hospitals and take patients directly to centres equipped for thrombectomy, cutting treatment delays by tens of minutes. The project also includes health economics modelling to show whether the test saves the NHS money by reducing long-term disability costs. This is an implementation study, not fundamental science. Its success depends on whether the test works reliably in the chaotic, fast-moving environment of pre-hospital emergency care.