Diagnostic Chip: Just a Small Sting

HIV, hepatitis, flu - almost any pathogen can be detected by a new biochip. All it takes is twenty minutes time and a tenth of a blood drop. 19/11/2009

With the new diagnostic chip
a blood analysis is possible in
few minutes;© Messe Düsseldorf

It ist not only children who are frightened when it comes to blooddrawing. Many grown-ups, too, fear the needle. The new biochip developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicone Technology (ISIT) changes that: With an innovative technology currently presented at the Fraunhofer stand at MEDICA (Hall 10), a small prick is sufficiant for the bloodtesting.

The blood being applicated on the silicone chip can be tested for up to eight pathogens. The preparation of the chip determines which viruses or bacteria can be detected. Antibodies on the chip bind just one type of pathogen. "It works like a key-lock-concept: Each antibody fits just one pathogen", explains Eric Nebling of Fraunhofer ISIT, who co-developed the chip. The different antibodies on the chip won´t mix because they are separated by a special layer.

Prepared that way the chips are ready for use up to four years. This new kind of testing allows practitioners an immediate diagnosis. Instead of waiting several days for test results from the laboratory, the patient learns directly whether he is infected with HIV or not. "It will probably still take a few years until our chip is available on the market" says Nebling, because the medical admission is still in progress.

Sonja Endres
MEDICA.de