Rapid, Field Deployable Alphavirus and Flavivirus Identification Assay

Integrated Nano-technologies has developed a method that identifies pathogens using nucleic acid information. The technology has been developed into a prototype system consisting of a analyzer device, a unique single-use cartridge in which the entire preparation and identification processes take place, and a microchip on which the identification occurs. The prototype meets many of the requirements of this solicitation. The primary objective of this project is to advance to commercialization a rapid, field-deployable assay designed to identify a range of medically relevant alphaviruses and flaviviruses from arthropod sources. The assay will be able to meet the key needs requested by this solicitation: - will be the size of a handheld electronic device, and weigh less than three pounds. - provides a results read-out in about ten minutes, - is cost affordable - has simple operator requirements, including for sample preparation - uses standard, heat stable reagents and materials that do not require special preparation for use, - runs on batteries - is at least 80% as specific and 80% as sensitive as the current gold-standard assays (e.g. PCR, ELISA) for the individual viruses. Phase I will evaluate the feasibility of the prototype system to work with five viruses and meet the operational requirements of the solicitation.