Validation of a Novel Non-Invasive Tool to Measure White Blood Cells in Children

Project Summary:

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White blood cell (WBC) count—a key marker of infection and inflammation—traditionally requires venous blood draws and laboratory analysis, which can be invasive, costly, and time-consuming. Access to timely laboratory testing is uneven across Wisconsin, especially in rural areas, underserved communities, and urgent care clinics where availability of tests, slow processing times, and lack of pediatric personnel can delay critical diagnosis and treatment for children. This creates barriers for children, families, and clinicians seeking rapid answers at the point of care. This project will validate UbiCellMonitor, a smartphone-based, non-invasive tool that estimates WBC counts in real time using fingertip imaging and optical methods similar to pulse oximetry. By replacing the need for lab-based blood draws, this tool allows providers in busy emergency departments and resource-limited areas to screen for elevated WBC within minutes, thus supporting faster triage, earlier antibiotic initiation, clearer diagnosis, and reduced unnecessary transfers for testing. The study will enroll 200 pediatric patients at Children’s Wisconsin to test accuracy, tolerability, and implementation readiness of UbiCellMonitor compared with standard lab results. Data will inform future adaptation for rural clinics and resource-limited settings across the globe where laboratory infrastructure is limited. If validated, UbiCellMonitor could reduce inequities in access to timely diagnosis, and offer a scalable model for real-time hematologic screening. This technology has the potential to transform diagnostics by bringing lab-grade insight to the point of care—whether that’s a rural clinic in Wisconsin or a hospital in Tanzania.