North Shore University Hospital Debuts Fast Concussion Blood Test

Northwell Health is first in New York to deploy Abbott's TBI test, which offers quick evaluation of potential brain injury in the emergency setting.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Northwell Health's North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) has become the first in New York State to successfully test and implement a new tool that dramatically speeds the assessment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), such as concussion, using a 15-minute, whole blood test that detects two biomarkers of TBI. The i-STAT Alinity TBI test from Abbott can cut the time to rule out significant injury to 30 minutes from 3 ½ hours at NSUH by avoiding unnecessary CT scans, freeing up radiology resources and eliminating radiation exposure for the patient.

Why it matters

As Long Island's population ages, more people are showing up in the ED to be evaluated after a fall. Nearly 5 million people go to the emergency department with a mild TBI in the U.S. each year, and a CT scan was performed in 82 percent of cases. This new test provides objective information that takes away the ambiguity of traditional concussion assessment while minimizing the reliance on radiology as a broad, first-step diagnostic.

The details

The i-STAT TBI cartridge works by measuring GFAP and UCH-L1, which are two brain-specific proteins released into the bloodstream from different cell types following TBI. A clinically significant elevation of GFAP and UCH-L1 can be detected in the blood up to 24 hours after injury with this unique test. NSUH's initial three-month test validation trial tested 107 low-risk, adult patients, which showed remarkably safe and accurate benefits.

  • NSUH became the first in New York State to successfully test and implement the new tool in 2026.

The players

North Shore University Hospital (NSUH)

A Level I trauma center and teaching hospital that treats more than 90,000 patients each year and is a member of Northwell Health, the largest nonprofit health system in the Northeast.

Northwell Health

The largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians.

Abbott

A medical device and health care company that developed the i-STAT Alinity TBI test used by NSUH.

Chidubem Iloabachie, MD

Associate chair of Emergency Medicine at NSUH who helped oversee the program.

Beth McQuiston, MD, RD

Medical director for Abbott's diagnostics business.

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What they’re saying

“This rapid turnaround to assess for brain injuries is a game-changer. It reduces wait times for patients to receive results and can decrease treat and release length of stay, which is critical in a busy emergency department – as well as for the patient's well-being.”

— Chidubem Iloabachie, MD, Associate chair of Emergency Medicine at NSUH (longisland.com)

“Concussions are invisible injuries, and Abbott's i-STAT TBI test makes the invisible visible. For the first time ever, doctors at NSUH are armed with a fast, reliable blood test for the brain.”

— Beth McQuiston, MD, RD, Medical director for Abbott's diagnostics business (longisland.com)

What’s next

NSUH plans to expand the use of the i-STAT TBI test beyond the initial three-month trial, making it a standard tool in the hospital's emergency department.

The takeaway

This new blood test represents a significant advancement in the standard of care for traumatic brain injury patients, providing a fast, reliable, and objective way to assess potential concussions in the emergency setting and reduce reliance on more invasive and time-consuming diagnostic methods.