Micronics will use the fluorophores and quencher dyes in infectious disease tests.
Micronics has obtained the right to to make, have made, use, and sell products that incorporate Biosearch Technologies’ fluorophores and quencher dyes for nucleic acid assays. Under the terms of the worldwide license, Biosearch has granted Micronics royalty-free use of certain chemistries for inclusion in the latter’s infectious disease tests for sale in underdeveloped countries.
Biosearch’s line of fluorophores and quenchers, including the Black Hole Quencher (BHQ), CAL Fluor, and Quasar dye technologies, will be used by Micronics in conjunction with the molecular beacons probe technology that Micronics licensed from PHRI Properties.
The BHQ dyes are used for fluorescence-quenched probe applications in many nucleic acid assay testing methods. Most recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention selected a BHQ dye as the core detection technology for use in the H1N1 real-time PCR test for distribution among public health and other qualified labs worldwide.
Micronics is advancing a family of near-patient, point-of-care molecular tests for infectious disease diagnosis and forensic testing. These tests employ Micronics’ microfluidics technologies, which enable substantial reductions in both the volume of a sample taken from a patient and the reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification assay, the company says. Micronics’ portfolio includes tests for Shiga toxin producing E. coli, malaria, and respiratory disease panels.
By incorporating molecular beacons with Biosearch fluorophores and BHQ dyes, Micronics’ test cartridges can perform either single or multiplex pathogen detection. Each test cartridge will contain all the required test reagents for ease of use and nonrefrigerated storage. The cartridge is processed by a lightweight, low-cost, battery or mains-powered instrument with software connectivity. Micronics’ tests are reportedly designed to provide a result in under 30 minutes, directly from sample acquisition in the sealed disposable test cartridge.
