Device determines genetic predisposition to drug allergies

The team believes that the success of a pilot study takes the device — the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) DR (pronounced ’Snip’ doctor) — one step closer to being used in the healthcare industry.

The SNP DR is a portable technology that gives real-time, accurate, on-the-spot test results for specific DNA sequences that may be used by doctors to indicate how people are likely to respond to certain drugs.

It works by analysing a patient’s Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms — DNA sequence variations that occur due to a single nucleotide alteration in the genome sequence. Doing so can indicate how people may respond to disease, bacteria, viruses, toxins and medication.

In use, the SNP DR device analyses Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in saliva samples, which are placed in a disposable cartridge and exposed to sensors inside the device. Copies of SNPs are also contained in the device and, if a match is detected, a message is displayed on the SNP DR’s handheld console.