We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Bioluminescent Molecular Diagnostics Platform Enables Rapid On-Site Pathogen Detection

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 01 Aug 2025

Infectious diseases such as malaria, gonorrhea, and chlamydia continue to pose serious global health challenges, particularly in low-income countries with limited healthcare infrastructure. More...

Every year, an estimated 600,000 people die from malaria, with over 95% of those deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. In these regions, diagnostics are often lacking, and patients may be treated without accurate knowledge of their condition. This leads to unnecessary antibiotic use, heightening the risk of antibiotic resistance and worsening patient outcomes. Existing methods either rely on sensitive but laboratory-dependent PCR technology or on simple, low-cost antigen tests that lack accuracy. Now, researchers have developed a new test that combines the sensitivity of PCR with the simplicity and speed of rapid tests, enabling accurate pathogen detection even outside the lab environment.

The new diagnostic solution was developed by Spotlight Dx (Bunnik, Netherlands), a startup founded by researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (Eindhoven, Netherlands), along with collaborators. The platform, initially conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, leverages CRISPR-Cas9 technology to detect DNA from pathogens with high specificity. The Cas9 proteins are linked to luciferase enzymes, which emit light when the target DNA is identified. This bioluminescent signal can be read by a simple device, such as a smartphone camera, eliminating the need for complex lab equipment. Unlike traditional PCR, the system uses a DNA amplification method that works at a constant low temperature, making it faster and more field-friendly. The test was first validated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results published in ACS Central Science showed comparable accuracy to PCR but with a significantly faster turnaround.

Since then, the test has been applied on a small scale to samples of patients with sexually transmitted infections and is now being prepared for field validation in Uganda, focusing on malaria. The technology has demonstrated promise in distinguishing between infections that exhibit similar symptoms but require different treatments. The startup has also applied the test on a small scale to samples from patients with the common STIs, gonorrhea and chlamydia. They developed color-variant readouts, such as blue light for chlamydia and green for gonorrhea, to facilitate simultaneous detection of multiple infections. The team is also working on establishing local manufacturing capacity in countries with the greatest need to ensure accessibility and sustainability. Spotlight Dx has forged partnerships with universities and research centers in Uganda, Rwanda, and Burkina Faso, aiming to establish validation studies and build diagnostic capacity locally. The next steps include scaling production, validating the malaria test in real-world settings, and expanding the test's applications to cover more pathogens across various healthcare systems.

“Our test is right in the sweet spot between the two,” said Spotlight Dx co-founder Harm van der Veer. “It focuses on DNA, is almost as sensitive as PCR, but is faster and much easier to use—even outside the lab. In principle, a simple smartphone camera is all you need to read the light emitted by the test.”

“We are starting with the development and production of the test kits in the Netherlands, but ultimately want to move production to the countries where the need is greatest. This will ensure that the technology remains accessible, affordable, and sustainable—even without foreign aid,” added van der Veer.

Related Links:
Spotlight Dx
Eindhoven University of Technology


Gold Member
Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile pHOx
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Gold Member
Hybrid Pipette
SWITCH
Human Estradiol Assay
Human Estradiol CLIA Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New evidence shows viscoelastic testing can improve assessment of blood clotting during postpartum hemorrhage (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Automated cell imaging discriminates CD8+ T cells according to natalizumab treatment outcome in MS patients (B Chaves et al., Nat Commun 16, 5533 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60224-3)

Novel Tool Predicts Most Effective Multiple Sclerosis Medication for Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune and degenerative neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to motor, cognitive, and mental impairments. Symptoms can include... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The SWITCH hybrid pipette is designed to simplify and accelerate pipetting tasks (Photo courtesy of INTEGRA)

Hybrid Pipette Combines Manual Control with Fast Electronic Aliquoting

Manual pipettes offer the control needed for delicate tasks such as mixing or supernatant removal, but typically fall short in repetitive workflows like aliquoting. Electronic pipettes solve this problem... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: ELITechGroup’s unique Real-Time PCR technologies include the revolutionary Minor Groove Binder (Photo courtesy of ELITechGroup)

ELITech and Hitachi High-Tech to Develop Automated PCR Testing System for Infectious Diseases

Molecular testing has become central to diagnosing and monitoring infectious diseases by analyzing genetic information. The use of PCR during the COVID-19 pandemic showed its value, but traditional systems... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.