Pathology services provider SYNLAB UK & Ireland has announced the expansion of its partnership with iFAST Diagnostics, making it the firm’s first commercial laboratory partner in the UK.
Following validation earlier this year, SYNLAB’s work with iFAST will focus on integrating rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) into laboratory workflows, and on developing the evidence healthcare organisations and NHS decision-makers need to support adoption at scale.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a major threat to human health. In England alone, healthcare professionals see approximately 400 new reported case of antibiotic-resistant infections every week. Globally, 1 in 6 bacterial infections are now resistant to treatment, and this figure is rising.
Delivering a correct diagnosis quickly is crucial to beating antimicrobial resistance. iFAST’s technology delivers results in less than three hours, a significant improvement on the usual turnaround time of 72 hours, and this speed enables fast, well informed treatment decisions at the point they matter most for patients.
The new partnership agreement between SYNLAB and iFAST will build on the existing programme of shared research evaluation. The iFAST system research evaluation will continue with Southwest Pathology Services (SPS), while the iFAST ONE AST system will be rolled out for routine clinical use.
This partnership reflects the commitment of the two organisations to translating advances in diagnostic science into real-world impact, improving patient care while supporting effective antimicrobial stewardship.
Professor Dominic Harrington, Chief Scientific Officer, SYNLAB UK & Ireland, commented: “SYNLAB has been working with iFAST since before the company formed in 2023, when the team were based at Southampton University, and I am delighted that our partnership is continuing. This collaboration has big potential impact on the fight against antimicrobial resistance and in effective care for the patients of tomorrow.”
Dr Toby King, CEO, iFAST Diagnostics, added: “The extension of this valued partnership demonstrates strong commitment by SNYLAB to game changing innovation. Our shared goals to significantly slow the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are one step closer to being realised.”