Astratus Limited is a spin-out from the University of Reading, founded in 2024, focused on transforming antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) through rapid, scalable technology. The company has developed a patented microcapillary “dip-and-test” cassette system combined with time-lapse imaging to deliver same-day, digitised results in under six hours—dramatically faster than traditional culture-based methods. Designed for both human and veterinary use, the platform provides highly accurate results and is compatible with a wide range of antibiotics. Backed by funding from Innovate UK and NIHR, Astratus aims to improve antimicrobial stewardship, support the development of new therapies, and increase lab efficiency through high-throughput, automated testing.