5-Minute STI Test: Faster Sexual Health Screening
Linear Diagnostics accelerates sexual health screening with its £1 million funding for a rapid STI test. This innovative test aims to deliver results in under 20 minutes,a significant leap forward in STI diagnosis. Developed with the NIHR HealthTech Research Center and the North East Innovation Lab, this rapid STI test employs Exponential Amplification (EXPAR) technology to detect bacterial DNA quickly. The funding will finalize the design and validate the performance of this novel platform. News Directory 3 reports that this advancement addresses the pressing need for efficient STI testing, especially against drug-resistant strains. Discover how this technology will revolutionize sexual health care in the near future.
Linear Diagnostics Lands £1M for Rapid STI Testing platform
Birmingham spin-out Linear diagnostics has secured £1 million to finalize development of it’s rapid test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The project is a collaboration with the NIHR HealthTech Research Center (HRC) and the North East Innovation Lab, part of Newcastle Hospitals.
Linear Diagnostics is creating a low-cost, near-patient diagnostic platform. The goal is to diagnose infections from a single sample faster than any existing commercial option, addressing the critical need for efficient STI testing.
The funding, awarded by the national Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Invention for Innovation program, covers a three-year work plan. This will culminate in real-world testing of the technology on clinical samples, preparing it for full clinical trials.The rapid STI test promises quicker results.
Linear’s Exponential Amplification (EXPAR) technology detects bacterial DNA using a rapid signal amplification method. Originally developed and tested at the University during the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology can detect bacterial STIs, urinary tract infections, and viral infections like SARS-CoV-2 in as little as five minutes. This advancement could significantly improve STI diagnosis.
The company has recently focused on STIs, especially Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, due to growing global concerns about multi-drug-resistant strains.
Rapid testing is crucial to halt transmission, enabling prompt diagnosis and treatment during a single clinic visit. Current tests, while easy to use, have struggled to meet the 20-minute target from sample to results.
The new funding will allow Linear to finalize the design of its cartridge and reader platform and validate its performance.
Dr. Jean-Louis Duprey, head of research and development at Linear Diagnostics, said, “The most difficult criteria to achieve in diagnostic testing is combining rapidity with accuracy… We are developing a near patient device that will overcome this conundrum.”
The HRC, hosted by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Newcastle University, will assist in evaluating the technology.
Dr. Jana Suklan, senior methodologist at the HRC, said, “The NIHR HRC in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation is delighted to be collaborating… to support Linear Diagnostics with their exciting technology… Our public contributors will guide the research and ensure it meets the needs of patients, public and carers.”
John Tyson, head of the North East Innovation Lab, said, “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to continue our collaborative work with our partner innovators to support the development and evaluation of this new exciting test… to move new innovative technologies to the next stage of their development or launch to mainstream use.”
What’s next
With funding secured, Linear diagnostics will focus on refining its platform and conducting clinical trials, bringing its rapid STI testing technology closer to widespread use.