Atlas Completes Development of io™ Reader, a POC Device for Rapid Detection of Infectious Diseases

Atlas Genetics Ltd, the diagnostic company developing ultra-rapid point-of-care (POC) tests for a range of infectious diseases, has announced that it has completed development of the Atlas io™ Reader, a POC device that can deliver laboratory quality results for molecular assays in under thirty minutes.

The Atlas io™ Reader, developed with The Technology Partnership plc (“TTP”), operates with a disposable cartridge, to which an unprocessed clinical specimen is added. The instrument fully automates the three-stage process of sample preparation, DNA amplification, and electrochemical detection to analyse the patient’s sample for the target infection.

The current clinical practice usually involves sending test samples to the central laboratory for analysis with a turn-around time of up to ten days. The Atlas io™ Reader allows rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, providing clinicians with the opportunity to treat the patient immediately, eliminating the need for a return visit and greatly improving patient outcomes.

The Atlas io™ Reader is now entering pilot manufacture ahead of the company conducting clinical
studies to support its application for regulatory clearance in Europe later this year.

John Clarkson, CEO of Atlas, said: “Our focus is on diseases including sexually transmitted, and hospital acquired infections, where rapid diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and control. The Atlas io™ Reader is an accurate, low cost, diagnostic instrument that has the potential to revolutionise infectious disease diagnosis by allowing clinicians to test and treat their patients in the same visit.”

Piers Harding, project leader at TTP, comments: “The outstanding results that we are seeing from initial production instruments are testament to the close working relationship that Atlas Genetics and TTP have formed over the past year.”