U.S. DOD Purchases Banyan Biomarkers' Brain Injury Blood Tests

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  • Banyan BTI is the first test to aid in the diagnosis of concussion
  • The U.S. CDC estimates there are more than 2.5 million emergency room visits annually in the U.S. alone


Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., a pioneer in developing biomarkers for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to procure the Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator (Banyan BTI). The Banyan BTI is a diagnostic blood test used to rule out the need for a head CT scan in patients 18 years of age and older with a suspected TBI. Per the terms of the contract, the DOD has ordered Banyan BTI tests for use in military installations that may include Fort Bragg, Fort Carson, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, Joint-Base San Antonio, Camp Pendleton, Fort Bliss, Fort Campbell, and Camp Lejeune.

“Several years ago, the U.S. Department of Defense made a commitment to support research and development of a blood test that provides objective data to healthcare providers when evaluating patients with a traumatic brain injury,” said Henry L. Nordhoff, Chairman and CEO of Banyan Biomarkers. “Today, we are proud to deliver on that commitment and provide the Banyan BTI test to help medical professionals more effectively manage soldiers who have suspected TBI.”

Banyan BTI identifies two brain-specific protein biomarkers Ubiquitin Carboxyl-terminal Hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) that are detected in the blood soon after a brain injury. In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing authorization to Banyan Biomarkers for the commercialization of Banyan BTI to aid in the evaluation of patients with a suspected mild TBI or concussion.

Falls, automobile accidents, sports-related injuries, assaults, and, in the military, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and combat wounds are common causes of TBI. The U.S. Center for Disease Control estimates there are more than 2.5 million emergency room visits in the United States because of head injuries and TBI is an economic burden of more than $76 billion annually on the healthcare system. Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability and the number one cause of death for young adults.