Hong Kong researchers create faecal test kit that can detect autism in toddlers
- Scientists at Chinese University of Hong Kong medical school claim test has accuracy rate of 94 per cent and will be available by year’s end
Parents can soon know whether their young child has a symptom of autism by testing the toddler’s stool using a new kit developed by researchers in Hong Kong, who claim the analysis has an accuracy rate of 94 per cent.
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s medical school collected faecal samples from 1,627 children aged from one to 13 from 2021 to 2023, and found that children with autism had alterations in their gut microbial species. This showed that the microbiome in children’s stomachs could contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorder.
“Children who show symptoms of autism usually have to wait for 12 to 18 months to get diagnosed. That’s why we hope children can be diagnosed as soon as possible through early intervention with our stool test kit,” said Croucher Professor in Medical Sciences Ng Siew-chien.
The test kit, which will be available by the end of this year, requires parents to collect a sample of their children’s stool in a bottle and mix it with certain chemicals.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, 1 per cent of children are diagnosed with autism globally.
