Cold Pain Test Kit

Prof. Tony Wright, Penny Moss and Heather Benson (clockwise from top) demonstrate the Cold Pain Test Kit.

Head of School Prof Tony Wright, Penny Moss and Dr Heather Benson (School of Pharmacy) have won the Early-Stage Western Australian Inventor of the Year Award 2008 with their Cold Pain Test Kit.

Some people with conditions such as arthritis or whiplash can experience unusually high levels of pain that does not respond to everyday painkillers. Currently there is no simple way for GPs to identify these people at an early stage, before the problem becomes established and reduces quality of life.

The Cold Pain Test Kit is a simple diagnostic test that can quickly identify patients at risk of developing this more severe pain. A single-use, adhesive patch containing a plant extract substance, is placed on the skin for 10 minutes. Patients record both the intensity and quality of the sensation they feel on an electronic scale. Interpretive software provides the GP with an immediate result, enabling them to make an immediate decision on what pain medication should be subscribed. Improvements in quality of life for patients will be immediate, possibly postponing the need for expensive joint replacement surgery, thereby benefiting both the patient and the burdened health care system.