Blood Samples Immediately Analyzed in Physician's Offices and Hospitals

Inside the chip, the fluids and dry components of the sample are separated, launching a number of reactions that take place in a series of channels without any need for pumps or valves; i.e., using high-level microfluidics. The results are read optically within a couple of minutes.

This SpinChip (Oslo, Norway) technology has the potential to perform a wide range of analyses rapidly, simply, and reliably. The analytical technology will be available in a portable instrument, so that critical bioanalyses can be moved from the laboratory to hospital emergency departments, bedsides, and doctors' surgeries, making it easier to start the right treatment sooner than otherwise would be possible.

The SpinChip has numerous fields of application such as for proteins, cells, DNA/RNA, drugs, nutrients. The technology is robust, fast, and easy to use. The fully automated sample processing and assays take place in less than 2 minutes. Sample volume can be 1 µL to 1 mL and the instrument is 1.6 dm3; the chip diameter is 4.5 cm.

The results of analyses of patient samples (blood, urine, etc.) can be an important element in diagnosing illnesses. Currently, in most cases, these samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis, with the result that important information may not be available at the start of treatment.

SpinChip was registered as a company in February this year. Sintef licensed the technology along with two patents, and has signed up Tronrud Engineering as a co-investor. The company currently has no employees and services are being purchased from Sintef and Tronrud Engineering.

From now and until 2015, the technology will continue to be developed, and the Research Council of Norway has contributed to financing efforts via a User-driven Research-based Innovation (BIA) project that is currently being launched.

"In the course of 2013, SpinChip Diagnostics will start to hire its own staff, and in the first quarter of the year we will also invite new investors to join the company. We have about 20 investors in our sights," says Jostein Bjøndal in Sinvent, Sintef's research commercialization company.

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