CE-marked mariPOC uses two-photon excitation detection to find nine pathogens in 20 minutes.
ArcDia raised €2.7 million (about $3.5 million) in an investment round to expand its mariPOC® diagnostic system. The point-of-care platform simultaneously tests for nine common viruses and bacteria responsible for respiratory tract infections using a single nasopharyngeal or throat swab, or sample of aspirate. Pathogens detected include influenza A/B, respiratory syncitial virus, and parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, and 3, and results are generated in 20 minutes.
Based on Finnish firm ArcDia’s TPX detection technology, the IVD-CE marked mariPOC was launched on the European market in late 2010, and is used by major hospitals for routine clinical diagnostics. “No other diagnostics test platform has been able to provide this functionality and cost-effectiveness to enable respiratory tract infections testing at point-of-care,” comments Aleksi Soini, ArcDia’s CEO.
ArcDia’s TPX system uses two-photon excitation of fluorescence detection, which allows separation-free analysis from just microvolumes, the firm explains. Polystyrene microparticles are used for the solid phase reaction carriers for the formation of fluorescence-based immunocomplexes generated as a result of antigen-antibody binding. Detection of the immunoassay fluorescence signal is then carried out by means of two-photon excitation from the surface of individual microspheres.
