ASSAY OF CARDIOACTIVE DRUGS IN BLOOD

IN VITRO TESTS PROVIDE INDISPENSABLE INFORMATION TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT DISEASE. SUCH TESTS AREUSUALLY PERFORMED IN A LABORATORY REMOTE FROM THE PATIENT AND TAKE HOURS OR DAYS BEFORE RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE. BIOTRACK HAS DEVELOPED A NOVEL PROTHROMBIN TIME MONITOR DESIGNED FOR PATIENT-SIDE USE. THE TEST USES A DROP OF FINGERSTICK BLOOD, IS SIMPLE AND RAPID TO PERFORM, AND IS ASACCURATE AND PRECISE AS LABORATORY METHODS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXTEND THIS SYSTEM TO OTHER TESTS IMPORTANT IM MANAGING CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS. THESE INCLUDE DRUG TESTS FOR MONITORING AND ADJUSTING CARDIOACTIVEPHARMACEUTICAL THERAPY AND ENZYME TESTS AS MARKERS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DAMAGE. SPECIFICALLY, RESEARCHERS WILL DEVELOP A PORTABLE IMMUNOASSAY SYSTEM USING LASER OPTICS ANDREAGENT ADDITION BY CAPILLARY FLOW IN WHOLE BLOOD SAMPLES, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RESULTS. IN PHASE I, BIOTRACK WILL SELECT A MODEL ANALYTE (LIDOCAINE-USED AS AN ANTIARRHYTHMIC)AND ASSEMBLE THE COMPONENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF AN IN VITRO IMMUNOCHEMICAL BIOSENSOR. IN PHASE II, BIOTRACK WOULD DESIGN AND FABRICATE A PREPROTOTYPE SYSTEM THAT WOULD PERFORM IN A CLINICAL SETTING.