Next‑generation UTI diagnostics: delivering results in just 35 minutes

Urinary Tract infections, or UTIs, affect millions worldwide, driving sepsis, antibiotic overuse, and microbial resistance. Current diagnostics rely on either slow lab cultures or unreliable dipsticks, and often lead to delayed or unnecessary treatment. Llusern’s Lodestar DX changes that: a point-of-care test that detects 96% of key UTI pathogens in just 35 minutes, no lab required.In this episode I’m joined by Emma Hayhurst who shares her journey into diagnostics, Llusern’s mission, and the emergence of Wales as a biotech hub with a growing life sciences sector fueling local innovation. We discuss UTI prevalence, diagnostic gaps, and how rapid, accurate testing can transform patient care and antimicrobial stewardship. 02:14               Meet Emma Hayhurst04:37               Introducing Llusern Scientific07:21               Collaboration between Llusern and the academy08:50               The life science ecosystem in Wales12:10               Urinary tract infections (UTIs)15:45               UTI patient demographics16:54               Health impacts of UTIs: sepsis, antibiotic resistance, and more19:01               Existing UTI diagnostic options and their shortcomings24:41               Llusern’s Lodestar DX29:03               A point-of-care test, not a lab test31:44               Applications beyond UTIs36:03               Looking forward at LlusernInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Life sciences in Wales: biotechs in the scene in 2025Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance with Fast Molecular DiagnosticsUltra-Fast Diagnostics Could Transform Sexual Health