Magnetic lab-on-chip devices for multiplexed clinical diagnostics

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There is a need of physicians and clinicians to screen biological samples for many pathogensin a cost effective and reliable way, ideally in a single test (multiplexing). The ability toquickly and accurately diagnose diseases and their many subtypes (infectious andautoimmune diseases, cancer) is crucial to provide rapid and targeted treatment to individualpatients. The trend is towards molecular tests which avoid the need of manual microscopediagnosis of cultured samples as it has been traditionally to date. Conventionally such tests aresent away to specialist laboratories, however many of the multiplexed tests are best performedat the point of care (POC), in order to streamline treatment. Simple POC multiplexed assaysfor cardiac markers, for example, are used in emergency rooms for early diagnosis of heartattacks. The addition of more markers to tests would enable better treatment, but the currenttechnology is limited in multiplexing capabilities. In addition, physicians already run simpletests for infectious diseases such as Streptococcus in order to provide treatment right awayand prevent further spread. They could do the same for infectious diseases that requireanalysis of multiple sequences, such as influenza and MRSA or for diabetes where additionalmarkers could enable better long-term care, if they had better multiplexing capabilities.Cambridge BioMagnetics’s (CBM) core technology addresses this business opportunity withtwo offerings within the global Healthcare market. The first provides cost effective,customisable, lab-on-a-chip multiplex diagnostic tools for POC use by doctors, nurses andeven non-specialised staff. This offers Healthcare cost reduction and the patients benefit fromreduced waiting times and elimination of misdiagnosis. The second offering providesmultiplex molecular diagnostics for clinical labs for more specialised tests.