Inkjet printing innovation marks advance in personalised health testing

Product design and development specialists Cambridge Consultants have created a technology, called XylemDx, which uses an inkjet-style printer to fabricate different diagnostic tests onto paper.

The technology could allow patients to have personalised tests carried out at their GP surgery or local pharmacy, according to Nick Rollings, principal engineer at Cambridge Consultants.

“The vision is that a patient would go to the pharmacy and describe their symptoms, the pharmacist would look online at the database of tests, and download the relevant one,” he said. “The test could be fabricated on site, and handed to the patient to use at home or in the pharmacy.”

The paper test cartridges can be configured for use with variety of readers, from complex diagnostic instruments to a reader attached to a smartphone or a simple USB-powered device.

The technology can print a range of different diagnostic tests, including electronic, thermal, fluidic, optical and biological. A conductive ink containing silver nanoparticles can be printed onto the paper and used for electronic tests, for example.