In-Vitro Diagnostic

Cette innovation pourrait bien permettre aux salariés de retourner au travail : la MedTech Grapheal met au point un test qui, grâce au graphène polymère, détecte le virus en cinq minutes. Les résultats du test arrivant directement sur le smartphone de l’utilisateur.

Scientists at the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have announced the development of an artificial skin material that can sense pain, temperature, and pressure. It’s remarkable because it replicates how real skin responds to stimuli, which sends appropriate electric signals through neural pathways to the brain. The technology is slated to allow for life-like transmission of tactile sensations through prosthetic arms and legs, and may even help replace skin grafts with artificial solutions.

Scientists at Tulane University have reported a new COVID-19 saliva test that uses a smartphone to provide results in as little as 15 minutes. Similar to technology from UC Berkeley that we reported on last week, the new test uses CRISPR technology and does not involve polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that, though accurate, is slow to deliver results. It is purportedly faster, more accurate, and easier to perform that existing gold standard PCR tests, while requiring less equipment and achieving results in minutes rather than days.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a microfluidic chip that can provide rapid COVID-19 antibody tests. The electrochemical test can detect very low concentrations of antibodies in blood samples, and transmits the results to a smartphone. The test could help to measure patient responses to vaccines and determine if they have been previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

The technology is doing to the ubiquitous ELISA tests (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) what video did to still photography. It provides a continuous stream of snapshots of readings that can be used to view trends of analyte concentrations in near real-time.

Remote monitoring startup BioIntelliSense and Royal Phillips received $2.8 million to test BioIntelliSense’s device for the early detection of Covid-19 symptoms. The startup received FDA clearance for its small, adhesive monitoring device last year.

The FDA authorized an at-home antigen test for Covid-19 developed by Ellume. It does not require a prescription.

In silico models and computer simulation are invaluable tools to better understand complex biological processes such as cancer evolution. However, the complexity of the biological environment, with many cell mechanisms in response to changing physical and chemical external stimuli, makes the associated mathematical models highly non-linear and multiparametric. One of the main problems of these models is the determination of the parameters’ values, which are usually fitted for specific conditions, making the conclusions drawn difficult to generalise.

Diagnostic biomarkers are vital in determining whether a patient has a particular medical condition as well as finding an effective treatment. Therefore, exploring and developing new biomarkers is prerequisite for impactful medical practice, however, this proves often to be a risky endeavor. What are alternative strategies for successful diagnostic biomarkers’ development and commercialization?

A point-of-care (POC) electrochemical bio‐barcode device and assay system have been developed to enable analysis of protein biomarkers in undiluted and unprocessed human plasma samples.

“In Africa, sickle cell disease is the cause of death in 5% of children under 5-years-old for lack of early diagnosis,” said Angelo D’Alessandro, a researcher involved in the study. “This common, life-threatening genetic disorder is most prevalent in poor regions of the world where newborn screening and diagnosis are rare.”

Recent advances in molecular biology now make it possible and affordable to understand and track the key bacteria — both good and bad — that impact wastewater treatment plant performance. Two of these advances, microbial community analysis (MCA) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) — which is the molecular biology equivalent of a plate count on highly selective agars — give operators critical insight into the composition and health of their mixed liquor suspended solids or biomass, particularly during upsets or when introducing operational changes or new influents.

Diagnostic technology has evolved over the years. Advancements in laboratory science, instrumentation and analysis have led to the introduction of more advanced technologies such as molecular biology, DNA technology, molecular chemistry, cell culture technology, bioanalytical techniques, clinical technologies, computer-aided diagnostic procedures and many others. As these technologies are continuously developed, new diagnostic tools are being introduced in the market that will help doctors evaluate various illnesses and diseases.

Researchers at Caltech have developed a low-cost multiplex test that can rapidly provide three different types of data on COVID-19. The test can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, antibodies against the virus (potentially indicating a level of immunity), and inflammatory markers that could indicate the severity of COVID-19. Using blood or saliva, the test can provide a result in as little as 10 minutes. The researchers hope that it could soon be used by people at home to assess their COVID-19 status.

Metagenomics applied in a rapid clinical setting was unthinkable just a few years ago but now can be deployed by any hospital with local deployment.

These involve answering a daily survey so as to determine whether or not someone is experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19. These also let you know if you've been exposed to someone with symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Moderna is using a Roche antibody test in clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine. The test can measure the antibodies created through vaccination, offering a window into how long protection lasts.

This proof-of-concept assay platform demonstrates the basic functionality required for a rapid ultrasensitive assay suitable for use in resource-limited point-of-care settings or screening sites.

Interstitial fluid contains many valuable biomarkers, for example, it is used to measure glucose levels in the body by several commercially available continuous glucose monitors. However, the majority of medical tests resort to blood or urine sampling instead, mostly due to a lack of easy collection methods for interstitial fluid.

Containing a 4 x 4 array of hollow microneedles, the patch gently penetrates the skin when applied and draws interstitial fluid inside itself, where an antibody-based lateral-flow test strip detects protein biomarkers of malaria. The device provides an easy to read visual result in the form of colored strips, similar to a pregnancy test, in about 20 minutes.

To this date, the team has collected more than 70,000 recordings to create a model that identifies 98.5% of coughs from people confirmed with COVID-19. Not bad!

Targeting analysis of biological particles with large aspect ratios, such as viruses or fibrils, CEA scientists have demonstrated a breakthrough in single-particle mass spectrometry (MS) that could fast track the detection of viral particles in hospitals, offices, airplanes and other public places.