Device for multiple complex immunoassays gets funding

The prototype device is able to perform multiple different complex immunoassays — normally only possible by a trained technician in the lab — by nurses or general practitioners.

‘We’re trying to decentralise some of that testing out into the community,’ Diarmuid Flavin, Biosensia’s chief executive, told The Engineer.

Although there are similar diagnostic devices in development, RapiPlex uses a novel two-element design. First, an injection-moulded fluidic cartridge with multiple channels for different biomarkers is loaded with patient samples, whether blood, urine or saliva. The cartridge is then placed in a bench-top cradle that uses fluorescence excitation and detection to get a read-out.

‘The instrument is universal. We designed that flexibility into the system because a doctor’s office really just wants one box — one instrument on which you can do all assays of different varieties across different panels,’ Flavin said.

Crucially, the cartridge can be adapted to any particular suite of biomarkers up to a maximum of 12 and is then thrown away after use.