A multinational collaboration between researchers from Monash University in Australia and the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom has identified a blood biomarker that signals acute sleep deprivation. The discovery was documented in a leading scientific journal focused on advancing knowledge in biomedical science.
The biomarker demonstrated an ability to indicate whether an individual had been awake for 24 hours with a confidence level of 99.2 percent. This degree of sleep deficit is associated with a heightened risk of severe injuries and fatalities, underscoring the potential value of a rapid test for real-world safety scenarios.
Given that rough estimates attribute about one-fifth of traffic incidents worldwide to sleep loss, researchers see this finding as a possible foundation for future screening tools that can quickly and reliably identify drivers who are not alert enough to operate vehicles safely. The practical aim is to support interventions that reduce the likelihood of crashes caused by fatigue, particularly in high-risk transport environments.
Beyond road safety, the biomarker has potential utility in any setting where fatigue could compromise safety or performance. This could include workplaces that handle hazardous operations, heavy machinery, or critical infrastructure tasks where vigilance is essential. The ability to measure sleep deficit with a simple blood-based test may help organizations implement timely safeguards and maintain operational safety standards.
Study leader Professor Claire Anderson emphasized the relationship between limited nightly sleep and unsafe driving, noting that fewer than five hours of sleep is linked to impaired performance. She also compared extended wakefulness of 24 hours to the effects of intoxication on driving ability, highlighting the urgent need for objective fatigue assessment in transportation and safety-critical fields.
While experts see clear potential for the test to support medical and forensic evaluations, they also acknowledge that the method requires refinement before it can become routine practice. Additional validation, standardization, and optimization are necessary to ensure reliability across varied populations and settings. The ongoing work aims to translate this biomarker into a practical tool that clinicians, forensic professionals, and safety officers can rely on in everyday decision making.
Historical research has long suggested a connection between chronic sleep deprivation and increased risk for metabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes. The new findings add a biological dimension to that understanding, offering a measurable indicator of acute fatigue that could intersect with broader health assessments. As researchers continue to explore how this biomarker behaves under different stressors and across diverse groups, the broader goal remains clear: to safeguard health and safety by identifying fatigue early and accurately, before errors or accidents occur.