Singapore's Veredus Laboratories has developed a test kit that can identify more than 10 influenza strains at a time – including the Avian Flu. Now on evaluation trial at the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore, Vereflu will be launched commercially by the last quarter of this year, if the trial proves successful. The kit is targeted for use in clinics, at immigration checkpoints and even on farms in regions hit by influenza pandemics.
According to Dr Rosemary Tan, CEO of Veredus, "Immigration checkpoints can use the kit to screen people arriving from places with bird flu outbreaks." She enthused that the kit is much more advanced than conventional thermal scanners in that it can pick up the H5N1 virus, the cause of bird flu, before any fever occurs.
The diagnostic feature of Vereflu is built on STMicroelectronics In-Check platform. This platform contains the first commercial chip to combine the capabilities of laboratory instruments into a single, self-contained 1"x3" disposable cartridge. The chip provides integrated genetic analysis at a fraction of the time, cost, and complexity of conventional diagnostic systems. This mirco-electro-mechanical solution amplifies tiny DNA samples by precisely controlled heating and cooling, and runs biological protocols that evaluate the analyzed substance.
Low thermal capacity of silicon, coupled with the minute volumes of tested samples reduce reaction times to less than 30% compared with standard macroscopic equipment. Fast temperature cycling enables amplification of complex biological materials in 20 to 30 minutes without compromising accuracy and reliability. An embedded microcontroller actuates, monitors, and adjusts the parameters of the reaction.
A simple graphical user interface installed in a standard PC enables easy customization and control of temperatures, reaction times, and spot sizes in the most complex diagnostic applications. And because it is encapsulated in a single, self-contained unit, STMicro's biochip significantly reduces the risks of cross contamination inherent in conventional analysis methods.
"We will be working closely with Veredus Laboratories to advance our lab-on-chip technology into other areas of illnesses and diseases," says Robert Hodges, Lab on Chip Business Unit Director, CPG Microfluids Division, STMicroelectronics.
STMicro's IN-Check lab-on-chip paves the way for developing instant analysis of complex biological substances at point of need. It is particularly suitable for real-world conditions, spanning a wide array of health- and life-saving applications, including detection of infectious and genetic diseases, testing food and water supplies, veterinary diagnostics, and drug development.
STMicroelectronicsVeredus Laboratories Pte Ltd
