SPACE HEALTH · ESA

AIDA

Lab-quality blood counts.
In orbit, in a minute.

AIDA adapts a certified haematology analyser and an onboard AI node so a crew can run a full blood count from a single finger prick. Developed with Airbus Defence and Space under an ESA contract.

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27 parameters38 µl sampleESA Phase A/B

Norma Icon 5 OP · AIDA test unit

01 — The problem

Beyond low Earth orbit, evacuation is not an option.

Human spaceflight has relied on bringing a sick crew member home. Farther out that option disappears, communication delay rules out real-time support from the ground, and today there is no qualified haematology capability in orbit.

~1 minfrom finger prick to a full laboratory blood count

38 µlof whole blood per run, one capillary sample

27haematology parameters with a full 5-part differential

European Knowledge Centre and Airbus Defence and Space are developing AIDA: an analyser that delivers a full laboratory blood count on board, in about a minute, from a single finger prick.
ESA Contract 4000149059/25/NL/AT · Phase A/B

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02 — The device

A certified analyser, adapted for Columbus.

AIDA adapts the Norma Instruments Icon 5 OP haematology analyser for the ISS Columbus module and pairs it with an onboard AI compute node. Results are analysed on board and encrypted for downlink to flight surgeons.

What it measures

A complete blood count from a single finger-prick capillary sample, using two measurement principles side by side.

Parameters: 27
Differential: 5-part WBC
Sample: 38 µl capillary blood
Optical: Multi-angle flow cytometry + kinetic spectrophotometry
Impedance: Coulter with hydrodynamic focusing (RBC, PLT)
Downlink: Encrypted results to flight surgeons

WBC with LYM, MON, NEU, EOS and BAS counts and percentages; RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW; PLT, MPV, PCT, PDW, PLC-R%, PLC-C; NLR.

Step-by-step diagnostic procedure: prick, load, measure — How it measures: prick, load, measure

AI on board

On-board AI-assisted trend analysis across a crew member’s measurement history supports flight-surgeon interpretation and, on missions beyond low Earth orbit, crew-autonomous assessment.

Trend analysisPer-crew historyEncrypted downlinkCrew-autonomous mode

03 — Why it matters

Numbers when an event cannot wait.

Changes start in the first weeks

Red-cell destruction rises as soon as crew reach orbit and stays elevated all mission (+54% over six months). Space anaemia develops on orbit, not at landing.

Minutes, not weeks

An occlusive jugular-vein thrombosis was found in an ISS crew member around day 50. Platelet count, MPV and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio reach the flight surgeon in minutes.

An enabler for exploration

Needed where evacuation is not an option and the ground is minutes away by radio.

Applicable on Earth

The same finger-prick, no-laboratory operation suits remote and resource-limited care.

Sources

Trudel G. et al., Hemolysis contributes to anemia during long-duration space flight, Nature Medicine 28, 59–62 (2022).
Marshall-Goebel K. et al., Assessment of Jugular Venous Blood Flow Stasis and Thrombosis During Spaceflight, JAMA Network Open 2(11):e1915011 (2019).

04 — Spaceflight adaptations

Three changes make it fly.

01
Sealed capillary port
Replaces the gravity-fed sample vial.
02
Closed, gravity-independent fluids
Every internal fluid path is closed, with an inline mixer designed to replace the open mixing chamber.
03
Plug-and-play cassette
Holds reagents and waste in one volume-neutral loop.

One-pager

The whole project on a single page.

Device, measurements, spaceflight adaptations and sources, as presented to ESA.

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Lab-quality blood counts.In orbit, in a minute.