Parents may soon be able to determine whether their young child has autism by using a new stool test kit developed by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The test, which analyzes gut microbial species, could significantly reduce the lengthy wait times currently associated with autism diagnosis (via South China Morning Post).
New stool test kit developed by Chinese researchers could detect autism in children with 94% accuracy, significantly reducing diagnosis time.Photo by Peter Burdon on Unsplash
More Accurate, Faster Way to Detect Autism
The newly developed stool test kit has demonstrated an impressive accuracy rate of 94%, according to the researchers. Professor Ng Siew-chien, Croucher Professor in Medical Sciences at the university, highlighted the potential impact of the test on early diagnosis.
"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," Ng said.
The development of the test involved collecting fecal samples from 1,627 children aged one to 13 years over a two-year period from 2021 to 2023.
The research team found that children with autism exhibited distinct alterations in their gut microbial species, suggesting a connection between the microbiome and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
After parents collect a stool sample from their child and mix it with specific chemicals, the sample is sent to designated labs. There, an in-depth analysis is conducted using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with results available within a week.
Currently, autism diagnosis can take between three to four years, with most children receiving a diagnosis around the age of six.
Globally, about 1% of children are diagnosed with autism, according to the World Health Organization.
The new test kit is expected to be available by the end of the year, to provide parents with a quicker and more accessible diagnostic tool.
Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung, also from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, emphasized the potential benefits of the test kit.
He noted that the test kit could serve as an early, time-saving measure, enabling children who may be at risk of autism to seek medical intervention as early as possible.
Chan added that the kit could also assist parents dealing with suspected but unclear symptoms, enabling them to ascertain whether their children were indeed experiencing autism-related symptoms.
A Closer Look
The researchers also analyzed not only bacteria but also viruses, fungi, and other microbes, identifying distinct patterns in autistic children. Using machine learning, they achieved up to 82% accuracy in identifying autistic children based on 31 microbes and biological functions.
Professor Qi Su of the Chinese University of Hong Kong noted that while genetic factors play a substantial role in autism, the microbiome might influence the severity or expression of autism symptoms by modulating immune responses, neurotransmitter production, and metabolic pathways.
If the researchers' hypothesis is correct, it opens the door to personalized interventions using diet or probiotics to establish a more diverse microbiome in individuals diagnosed with autism.
