ALTON, Va. – While the sound of high-speed motorcycles fills Virginia International Raceway this weekend, a significant advancement in sports medicine is taking place quietly in the medical tent. MotoAmerica, the premier U.S. motorcycle road racing series, is using a new rapid blood test to help assess concussions at the track.
The technology, which debuted for the racing series at an event in Atlanta in May, is being used for the first time at the Virginia facility this weekend. The test gives the trackside medical team an objective tool to evaluate head injuries with unprecedented speed.
A New Standard in Concussion Management
For Dr. Carl Price, MotoAmerica’s chief medical officer, the new test provides the first piece of objective data for what has historically been a subjective evaluation.
“You draw blood, you put literally a drop of blood on the little chip, you plug it into this computer, and in 15 minutes you have an answer,” Price said.
Price, a professional racer himself, said a past concussion showed him how flawed previous diagnostic methods were. He calls the new test a significant advance because it removes guesswork. MotoAmerica is the first sports organization in the world to use this diagnostic tool, the Abbott iStat TBI test, in real time at live events.
How the Test Improves Rider Safety
The primary function of the test is to help doctors quickly determine if a rider needs to be transported for a CT scan. According to Price, the test has a 99.6% negative predictive value, meaning a negative result almost certainly rules out a brain bleed and the need for a scan.
“It’s a huge advantage from my perspective,” Price said. “If I’m in an isolated track, I can test the patient. I don’t need to send them to a hospital to get their CT scan.”
He noted that the test chips themselves are relatively inexpensive at about $50 each, representing a major cost savings compared to an emergency room visit and CT scan. Concussions are a significant part of the sport, with Price estimating an average of three to four concussions on a typical race weekend.
Future Applications Beyond the Racetrack
While MotoAmerica is pioneering its use in sports, Price believes the technology has far broader applications.
“I think other sporting organizations, even youth sports, I think that there is a role to play for this test,” he said, suggesting it could be used at soccer games or in other contact sports. “But frankly, not only sport. Concussion happens with falls. It’s more common outside of sport than in sport.”
He noted its potential use in nursing homes, where a rapid test could prevent unnecessary and costly emergency room transports for elderly patients who have fallen.
While safety remains a key focus, thousands of fans are expected at VIR to watch the on-track competition, which includes several professional classes like Superbike, Twins Cup, and an all-women’s division.
