Information for Clinicians
What is ANIA?
The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption pathway (ANIA) is an initiative focused on fast tracking the adoption of proven technological innovations across NHS Scotland.
ANIA brings together partners from across NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government to identify, assess and deliver high impact innovations for deployment at scale, for the benefit of patients across Scotland.
Who will carry out the Point of Care Tests (POCT)?
- Neonatal teams: will check if the baby is suitable for the test. If so, they’ll gently swab the baby’s cheek to collect a sample. The sample is then analysed using a small testing device, with results ready in around 26 minutes. The result will show whether the baby has the gene variant linked to gentamicin sensitivity. This helps the clinical team decide on the safest and most effective treatment.
- Pharmacists: Will support recommendations for testing, advise and/or prescribe alternative antibiotic therapy if there is a positive result.
- Primary Care teams: Will understand why the baby has received the test, treatment and what this means in the future.
- Service Leads: Will support the workforce in this change in practice, follow the education and training plan and promote learning materials .
Who is eligible for Neonatal Gentamicin POCT?
The test should be offered to all neonates presenting to a Special Care Baby unit (SCBU), Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) who have a differential or confirmed diagnosis of an infection where an aminoglycoside would be indicated as part of the treatment pathway.
When will this be available at my Health Board?
Implementation of the new point of care testing will follow a phased approach beginning with one early adopting Health Board expected to go live in Autumn 2025.
The remaining Health Boards will be introduced in three further sequential phases to support a structured national deployment.