New project will see testing of the proprietary LCC™ system in the offshore oil and gas sector

Oxford, UK, 13 September 2023 — Oxford MediStress Ltd, the Oxford-based health and wellness company commercialising the patented Leukocyte CopingCapacity™ (LCC™) system for monitoring stress in the workplace, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contract. The contract will focus on use of the LCC as part of a larger push to improve access to Occupational Health (OH) services, particularly for UK small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Oxford MediStress and its partner Divity Health submitted a proposal in response to the “SBRI competition jointly funded by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Increasing access to and capacity in Occupational Health: Phase 1” call for proposals earlier this year. Their proposal, titled: “WorkWeLCC™ platform to improve access to OH services and improve worker health and work participation in SMEs”, outlines an eight-month project that will include a trial to assess the LCC for use in the offshore oil and gas sector.

The LCC is a groundbreaking diagnostic test which provides a direct way to objectively monitor stress levels, which is important in many high-stress occupations. Using just a single drop of blood taken from a finger prick, OH technicians will now be able to gauge an individual’s stress levels in a ten-minute test that can be conducted on-site.

Dr David Sarphie, Oxford MediStress CEO, stated, “Our primary goal is to make this innovative test user-friendly so that it can be rolled out throughout the Occupational Health sector, transforming the way that employees and individuals who may have stress and anxiety issues are monitored and treated.”

The implications for the offshore oil and gas sector are significant. Use of LCC on a regular basis will help organisations better understand and manage employee stress levels and reduce stress in workers. This is particularly important in high stress conditions like those often faced by oil rig workers.

Oxford MediStress, led by Dr David Sarphie, is actively seeking investment to increase the reach of its commercial team and further its product development efforts, which includes expanding use of LCC for animal welfare and conservation activities, as well. By broadening the test’s reach, the company aims to enhance the well-being of humans and animals alike across the globe.

For more information about the LCC test or potential investment opportunities, please contact Dr David Sarphie; email: admin@oxford-medistress.com.

One Drop of Blood is All it Takes to Transform Wildlife Conservation, Petcare, and Farming Practices

Oxford, UK, 18 August 2023 — A groundbreaking diagnostic test known as the Leukocyte CopingCapacity™ (LCC™) test is revolutionizing our understanding of animal stress levels. Using just a single drop of blood taken from an ear or paw prick, researchers can now accurately gauge an animal’s stress levels.

The LCC test, pioneered by leukocyte expert Dr Rubina Mian and Professor David Macdonald of the University of Oxford’s zoology department, has already been implemented in over 25 different species, ranging from the Kulan of Outer Mongolia and turtles in Costa Rica to wild Brown Bears airlifted and released, and the majestic White-tailed Eagle.

“LCC revolutionises point of care diagnostics and animal welfare,” said Veterinary Expert Dr Nikolaus Huber, from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. Being a 10-minute mobile test, it is viable even in the most remote corners of the world. Dr Huber has used it extensively in his work with endangered species globally.

Dr David Sarphie, the CEO of Oxford MediStress, the company behind the LCC test, stated, “Our primary goal is to make this innovative test user-friendly. We’re on the brink of transforming not just wildlife conservation, but also the pet care industry and farming practices. And it can help humans too.”

The implications of the LCC test are far-reaching. In addition to wildlife conservation, the test’s application in pet care can lead to more personalized and effective intervention strategies. Within farming, the technique has the potential to optimize production and management practices by promoting animal health and well-being, subsequently improving product quality.

Furthermore, the LCC test is not limited to animals alone. It is currently being utilized to revolutionize working conditions for oil rig workers, helping organizations better understand and manage employee stress levels and reduce stress in workers.

Oxford MediStress, led by Dr David Sarphie, is actively seeking investment to increase the reach of its commercial team and further its research and development efforts and. By broadening the test’s reach, the company aims to enhance the well-being of animals and humans alike across the globe.

admin@oxford-medistress.comFor more information about the LCC test or potential investment opportunities, please contact Dr David Sarphie; email: admin@oxford-medistress.com

Kulan – an endangered species in Central Asia which has been monitored using the LCC™

As Oxford MediStress continues to expand its team, we welcome Yifei Cao and Xiaomeng Li to the team

An article has been published in the journal, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, which reviews many studies using the LCC test and technique.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00105/full

Huber, N., Marasco, V., Painer, J., Vetter, S. G., Göritz, F., Kaczensky, P., & Walzer, C. (2019).

Leukocyte Coping Capacity: An Integrative Parameter for Wildlife Welfare Within Conservation Interventions.

Frontiers in veterinary science, 6, 105. doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00105

Copyright © 2019 Huber, Marasco, Painer, Vetter, Göritz, Kaczensky and Walzer.

Table 1 from this paper both provides and is entitled “An overview of studies inferring LCC as a valid proxy to assess stress and welfare in animals”

Open pdf  Animal Welfare Studies And References

Oxford MediStress Ltd, a University of Oxford spin-out company commercializing a patented blood test for the rapid, direct, quantitative measurement of stress, announced that its CEO was recently interviewed on a popular health and wellness TV show.

Dr David Sarphie recently appeared on Sky’s “Chrissy B Show”, a popular program devoted to health and wellness subjects. On the show Dr Sarphie discussed his background and described the benefits of Oxford MediStress’s CopingCapacity™ test. The proprietary blood test provides a highly sensitive indication of stress levels, offering the first direct way to monitor and quantify how an individual is coping with their stress. A tiny drop of blood from a finger-prick is mixed with chemicals which mimic a bacterial challenge. The ability of the leukocytes (white blood cells) to respond to such an in vitro challenge is evaluated using a standard laboratory procedure. Results and interpretation are available within minutes, so that action can be taken, if required.

Commenting on the test kit, Dr Sarphie said: “We were thrilled to be invited onto the show to discuss our unique product and how it can be used to help individuals suffering from stress.” The video link can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4tqzf1L–g

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