Handheld and portable test systems for decentralized testing: From lab to marketplace

Emergency Diagnostics, Homeland Security, Epidemiological Preparedness and the high cost of the Health Care Systems have increased demand for affordable and mobile point of care (POC) devices with highest sensitivity, specificity and rapid time to result. We have developed pocket and brief case sized systems for point of care and field based tests based on fluorescence read-out. The core consists of battery operated, 90 gram electro-optical units with optional wireless data transfer, which have been optimized to achieve highest accuracy and sensitivity combined with simplicity of use. The robust systems have been applied to molecular diagnostics such as DNA based testing, immunodiagnostics as well as environmental monitoring and agricultural testing. Starting with the current bottlenecks of in-vitro diagnostics testing and a brief market overview, we will show commercially available portable test systems for molecular diagnostics and how we solve the current bottlenecks. We will further show battery operated handheld prototypes for DNA testing. ESE's handheld and portable testing platforms have been shown to provide sensitive, accurate, and specific results, as well as rapid turnaround. The stand-alone devices demonstrate operational and physical robustness, and they can be manufactured to be affordable.