COVID-19 rapid test technology may detect other diseases


New technological know-how created in Edmonton to make using a speedy test for COVID-19 simpler may be used to detect other illnesses.

In the course of the pandemic, GLC Health care Inc. rushed to build a superior swift examination that could generate results underneath a minute and is considerably less invasive.

The exam uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a approach largely employed in study labs to look into content attributes and electrode reactions.

“More than decades of exploration, it has not been attained for reproducible, repeatable results,” explained Donna Mandau, GLC Health care founder, president and CEO.

“In the very last 7 to 8 months, we have worked primarily on optimizing this technological innovation, achieving a reproducible sensor and once again optimizing this EIS strategy to be used on these sensors,” explained Dr. Ushula Tefashe, a scientist performing on the challenge.

“It is the to start with of its form and it is a worldwide breakthrough,” Tefashe reported.

To use the examination, you position a saliva collector in your mouth beneath your tongue for about 30 seconds. That sample is then combined with a alternative and put on a reader with a microchip.

The chip is study by a sensor, with outcomes exhibited on a personal computer in seconds.

Mandau claims the firm is checking out procedures to use the fast examination to detect other ailments, like HIV, malaria, and ebola.

“We also have the possible for (the detection) of most cancers markers,” Mandau added.

“Which is truly just the starting,” explained Mikolai Vajda, a lab technician.

“It can be utilized for other viruses, other platforms any other biologicals discovered in the human entire body,” he reported. “Like this is truly the introduction to lab on a chip.”

GLC Health care hopes to link with a husband or wife to manufacture the speedy tests on a more substantial scale and make it the new normal.

“It really is now time to carry this to the market and to the environment,” Tefashe mentioned.