Point of care testing in emergency departments after mild traumatic brain injury (POCkET)

This study will assess the use of blood biomarkers in ED triage, management pipelines and prognosis in patients who have sustained a mTBI and presented to an ED including:
• Decision of requirement for a CT head
• Can biomarkers predict those at high risk of continuing PCS?
• If the above are true, which patients may require repeat biomarker sampling?
• The extent to which the use of point of care biomarkers (specifically i-STAT TBI cartridge, Abbott) could impact patient pathways in ED and beyond. Additionally, the potential targets for integration and impact on staff, efficiency and resources within the ED.
• Is there an effect of age, extra-cranial injury, sex and renal function on biomarker levels for these patients?
• Is the use of the point of care biomarkers using the i-STAT TBI cartridge from Abbott as an exemplar likely to be cost effective at NICE willingness to pay thresholds