Innovative Mobile Device Rapidly Diagnoses Respiratory Infectious Diseases

Prototype development of novel platform technology has been successfully completed for the rapid, low-cost point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of flu and other respiratory conditions, and has potential for detection of a wide range of other diseases.

The prototype is a new wireless POC diagnosis system, developed by OJ Bio (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), that accurately and quickly identifies the presence of various disease types in various patient sample types (blood, serum, urine, saliva). The hand-held device can be used at a patient’s bed side or other POC location (e.g., patient’s home, GP office, surgery, pharmacy) with the results being available immediately, without samples being sent for laboratory analysis.

Formal clinical trials using the device to detect a number of respiratory viruses are planned to begin in early 2015. Development research has so far focused on detection and diagnosis of the influenza A and B viruses and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Other projects are also underway to detect, for example, periodontal gum disease and HIV.

The technology combines new test assays carried on a multichannel biochip with a specialist reading device and supporting diagnostic software that can be carried on a mobile app, PC, or the device itself.

“Our new device provides a low-cost test that dramatically improves the speed of diagnosis and treatment,” said Dale Athey, chief executive of OJ Bio, adding that “the flexibility of the technology platform has wide-ranging diagnostic testing potential, not only for the detection of human medical infections and conditions, but also for use in animal testing by veterinary practices. Recent progress has enabled us to accelerate the development of our system and projects are underway with partners in several market sectors which involve the use of the technology in a wide range of medical applications.”

The state-of-the-art biosensors at the heart of the system brings together advanced technology from the company’s two parent organizations—Japan Radio Company (JRC) and Orla Protein Technologies. JRC has developed surface acoustic wave (SAW) electronic chips which are coated with disease-specific biocapture surfaces developed by Orla. When a biological sample is applied to the biochip (held in a disposable cartridge), the presence of a disease antigen causes a shift in the phase angle of the SAW passing across the chip surface and this is translated into an electronic signal. This signal can then be detected and its presence or absence determined, providing an unequivocal pass or fail result for the specific disease being tested for. Bluetooth connection of the reading device to special diagnostic software enables the test results to be displayed within seconds.

OJ Bio owns the IP for biosurface and SAW technology and is working with clients by assisting with technology support and product development to clinical trial stage. Bio-assay development is continuing in the UK and manufacturing facilities are under development in Japan.

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