Researchers at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre are spearheading a pioneering study to evaluate an at-home diagnostic test for type 1 diabetes in children, potentially revolutionizing how the condition is diagnosed within the NHS.
The GTT@home test, developed by British digital clinical diagnostics company Digostics, offers a simplified version of the traditional oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The innovative testing kit includes a test device, finger prick equipment, a pre-formulated glucose drink, and comprehensive instructions for home use.
Clinical Protocol and Advantages
The testing procedure involves two finger-prick blood samples: one initial sample followed by consumption of the glucose drink, and a second sample taken two hours later. The device immediately analyzes both samples and transmits results directly to study teams, ensuring prompt medical assessment.
This home-based approach presents significant advantages over conventional hospital-based OGTTs, which require children to:
- Fast overnight
- Travel to a clinic early in the morning
- Undergo two blood draws in a clinical setting
Rabbi Swaby, clinical research fellow in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and study lead, emphasizes the potential impact: "At-home testing could be a major breakthrough for reducing the burden of testing, especially considering that standard OGTTs are not well tolerated by very young children."
Proven Track Record and Future Implementation
The GTT@home test has already demonstrated its reliability in adult testing, showing comparable accuracy to hospital-based OGTTs. Its successful implementation extends to gestational diabetes screening in pregnancy across NHS trusts in Southeast England, where over 2,500 women have been screened since February 2024.
The current study will evaluate 90 children and young people across two groups to assess the test's suitability for routine NHS implementation. This research is particularly crucial given that type 1 diabetes affects approximately one in 350 children, making it the most common childhood autoimmune disease.
Addressing Critical Diagnostic Delays
A concerning statistic drives the urgency of this research: around 40% of children with type 1 diabetes are not diagnosed until they develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication. The introduction of an accessible, home-based testing option could significantly improve early detection rates and prevent such severe complications.
The successful implementation of GTT@home could mark a significant advancement in pediatric diabetes care, potentially transforming the diagnostic journey for thousands of children across the UK while reducing the burden on both families and healthcare resources.
