A blood-testing device developed by Vancouver-based Response Biomedical is set to launch to the International Space Station on Oct. 1 alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, marking a milestone for the Canadian medical technology company.
The device, called Acute Care Testing in Space (ACTIS), is built on the company’s existing RAMP technology platform. It is designed to detect D-dimer, a protein fragment that remains in the blood after a clot forms, giving flight surgeons on the ground crucial information about astronauts’ health. According to Mathieu Caron, director of the Canadian Space Agency’s astronaut office, NASA has spent years studying how the human body reacts to extended stays in low gravity, including concerns about blood clot formation. NASA turned to the Canadian Space Agency to help address this risk, citing the agency’s experience with health and life science research aboard the space station.
From Space Testing to Remote Communities
Beyond its clotting detection capabilities, the RAMP platform that ACTIS is derived from can also screen for signs of heart attacks and test for conditions such as COVID-19 and RSV. Taso Tsonis, CEO of Response Biomedical, said the simple blood test can deliver results within minutes, a significant improvement over conventional testing methods that can take hours.
Tsonis said that speed matters not only in orbit but also on Earth, particularly in remote communities where diagnostic testing capacity is limited. He noted that health-care systems can be strained by both unnecessary treatments and admissions, as well as by delays in assessing patients quickly.
A Win for Canadian Innovation
Both Caron and Tsonis described the selection of ACTIS for the space station as a significant achievement for Canada’s technology sector. Tsonis said the choice demonstrates the flexibility and lasting value of the company’s technology, noting that Response Biomedical operates solely within Canada.
Tsonis added that if the device performs well during Kutryk’s mission, there is potential for ACTIS to be used on future, more distant space missions, including trips to the moon or Mars as NASA continues to plan for further human space exploration. He said the broader focus for the company nonetheless remains on advancing portable, near-patient testing technology for use here on Earth.
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