Israeli Company Unveils Fingerstick Test to Tell Bacterial from Viral Infections in Minutes

The new product, called MeMed BV Flex, delivers results in 15 minutes and is designed for use in decentralized clinics and other point-of-care settings.

By Shula Rosen

Israeli health-tech company MeMed has announced the successful development of a groundbreaking diagnostic tool that can quickly distinguish between bacterial and viral infections using just a finger prick.

The new product, called MeMed BV Flex, delivers results in 15 minutes and is designed for use in decentralized clinics and other point-of-care settings.

The test is an expansion of the company’s existing MeMed BV® platform and was validated in a prospective analytical study.

Researchers confirmed that results from capillary blood collected by fingerstick matched closely with those from venous blood, demonstrating the tool’s accuracy.

By measuring multiple host-response proteins and combining them into a diagnostic score, the system allows doctors to make rapid, informed decisions about treatment.

Eran Eden, MeMed’s co-founder and CEO, said the company had solved a long-standing challenge. “Accurately and simultaneously measuring multiple proteins from just a few drops of blood in a rapid and easy-to-use format has been difficult,” he told  OurCrowd. “By combining this breakthrough with machine learning, we can extend host-response testing to broader use. It’s a major step toward our next goal of reaching one million patients.”

The device operates on an enhanced version of MeMed’s platform, adapted for near-patient testing. A pivotal multi-center clinical trial is now underway to support U.S. regulatory submission following initial discussions with the FDA.

Medical experts see the advance as particularly significant for children and older adults, who often face repeated venipunctures. “Running MeMed BV Flex from a simple finger stick will make advanced host-response testing widely accessible,” said Dr. Adam Singer, Vice Chairman for Research at Stony Brook University’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “It means fewer needles for kids, faster results for seniors, and smarter antibiotic use overall.”

With antibiotic resistance a growing global threat, rapid and reliable tools like MeMed BV Flex may help physicians reduce unnecessary prescriptions while improving patient care. If approved, the device could become a new standard in everyday clinical practice, representing another Israeli innovation with the potential to impact millions worldwide.