August 28, 2008 New Band Aid is capable of detecting infection Play video

(Katie Daly, NECN: Worcester, MA) - Mitchell sanders of ECI Biotech in Worcester makes it sound simple. But the truth is... He has been "stuck" on taking Band Aids to a new level for the past 5 years.

A lot of development time and engineering went into the product but when you break it down its so simple you scratch your head --why didn't someone else do this

Sanders has recently made the final adjustments to concocting a formula that rapidly detects bacteria that causes wound infections. The formula, which he has to put into band aids.... changes color to show there's an infection developing.

Simply enough to literally see a blue color show up, safe enough to go on skin and rapid enough to work in a half hour.

He calls the product express-detect. He's now conducting the final clinical tests before seeking approval from the food and drug administration.

There is nothing like it on the market now-its an unmet need we see

Diane Ellis Edwards is a scientist at ECI. She's been working with sanders on a second product they hope will be used in hospitals to quickly diagnose infection in chronic wounds. Currently it takes 2-3 days for test results in a hospital. Their product would take an hour.

You would be watching for some sort of signal which would be a line development that would indicate yes there is an infection above a certain level

Not only could the product change the way doctors treat their patients. But scientist

So a little company that started from a car loan from their dad-potential commercializing we hope to hire 30 people could be exciting for Worcester.

If approved by the FDA, sanders hopes to see his band aids on the shelves of drug stores across the nation within a year.