A portable diagnostic device that provides the accuracy of laboratory testing at the point of care.

Most of us have experienced the anxious wait for laboratory test results. Whether it's a Covid-19 test completed before travel or a blood test carried out by our doctor, laboratory turn-around times can significantly impact on everyday life. For people living with chronic diseases like diabetes this stressful delay is not only more frequent but can hinder important clinical decisions and changes to medication. Managing patient symptoms and monitoring treatment often requires regular clinic appointments and numerous blood tests.

Some diagnostic tests, known as Point of Care (POC) tests, can be completed next to the patient in real time. Results are available quickly and so can be acted on immediately. Common POC tests include blood glucose and lateral-flow Covid-19 tests. However, despite the advantages of POC testing, many diagnostic tests still require the accuracy provided by automated laboratory instruments.

Invitron is developing a new portable device that will enable accurate medical diagnostic tests to be carried out quickly and efficiently at the Point of Care. Using just a small droplet of blood that can be collected by fingerstick, the device will provide rapid test results in doctors' offices, pharmacies and even patient homes. This will replace the need for laboratory testing, along with the anxious wait for results and delays to diagnosis and treatment.

This project is led by a scientist (Prof. Stuart Woodhead) who co-invented a chemiluminescence (light-emitting) technology for use in medical diagnostic testing. The technology facilitates extremely sensitive and accurate measurements and has already been widely adopted in world-leading laboratory instruments. His team is now developing a next-generation technology that will enable the benefits of chemiluminescence based diagnostics to be applied in rapid tests carried out directly at the Point of Care.