Lateral Flow Diagnostic Reader with Multiassay Cassette
- Detailed Technology Description
- This technology is an integrated rapid fluid diagnostic assay system in a hand-held electronic platform. The system provides the user with rapid results from up to eight different assays simultaneously, in a customized diagnostic panel, all from very small sample volumes.
- Others
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- *Abstract
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The core of this unique design uses assays that are similar to home pregnancy tests. The individual assays are made to test for suites of custom markers. For example, the growing concern over endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wastewater has prompted the development of assays that will test for the presence and quantification of an entire panel of these compounds, with results in less than ten minutes. A single water sample (less than one milliliter) is channeled into multiple individual assays. At the completion of the assay, the device reads each assay result, recognizes its unique barcode, and logs the assay data with annotation as needed. If desired, a smart phone with a patentable application can replace the camera/keypad combination, and the data can be transferred by wireless methods (e-mail, memory card, computer connection) into the user’s database. A GPS-enabled smart phone will also record the time and location of the assay result. This system enables rapid screening of a custom “sentinel panel” of these compounds for on-site wastewater managers, environmental researchers, physicians, veterinarians, and others wanting rapid evaluation of concentrations of compounds of interest. The platform is readily adaptable for use by other professionals working in remote locations, such as livestock veterinarians, pesticide monitors, or drug testing at athletic competitions using urine or blood. The entire system is comprised of a durable instrument and one-time use assays that can be archived or disposed of. Longer term, we already envision further technological developments that will lead to updated versions of this device, software, and assays.
Benefits:
The evaluation of contaminates in water is limited by the cost, complexity and sensitivity of existing assay formats. The advantages of this system over traditional water testing include:
- the ability to gain near real time results from multiple tests
- results are nearly as sensitive as the more expensive laboratory systems
- negates the necessity to to transport samples to a laboratory for such expensive testing
- single-use device provides the user with up to eight distinct assays
- cartridges can be "custom built" with different suites of assays, depending upon the analyses of interest to the user.
Applications:
- The system provides nearly instantaneous test results for multiple market uses, including water testing, healthcare, pharmaceutical evaluation, drug testing, and veterinary care.
- This system can be readily adapted to other uses such as field veterinary medicine, emergency medicine, disaster relief, or portable clinical diagnostics for developing countries.
- Country/Region
- USA
