Lab-On-Chip That Detects Multiple Tropical Diseases Ready for Use

VereTrop, the first biochip that can identify 13 different major tropical diseases from a single blood sample, has been launched by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Veredus Laboratories.

"Tropical diseases often reflect common symptoms like fever, and may not be accurately diagnosed early by doctors. This portable test kit is a rapid and reliable method to accurately test for multiple pathogenic targets from just one blood sample in a matter of hours," said project lead virologist Lisa F.P. Ng, Associate Professor at A*STAR's Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN).

The technology can open up new possibilities for the accurate and rapid diagnostic of important infectious diseases that remain the main causes of illness in the tropics. Its versatility and ease of use will likely change the approach to diagnostics at the periphery of health care system.

Together with Professor Laurent Renia, an expert in Malaria Immunobiology at SIgN, the team from SIgN has validated the kit on patient samples in the fields of Northern Thailand, at the Thai-Myanmar border.