DetechDock

Mobile heating device which heats the filled DetechChips to temperature for 20 minutes. Light ring enables the user to read the status of the incubation.

DetechPen

Manual sample preparation. The pen is designed for different types of samples. Saliva as well as stool, blood and urine and similar samples can be lysed and purified in it. In addition to purification, the pen is used to fill the chip.

DetechChip

Reaction cartridge with 5 reaction chambers to detect 5 different pathogens simultaneously. The reaction chambers can be individually filled with pathogen-specific, lypholized reagents. These dissolve as soon as the sample eluate comes into contact with them. After filling the chip and inserting it into the heat bar, the result of the reaction can be read visually on the underside of the chip after 20 minutes.The result of each individual chamber is displayed using a color indicator. (red=negative; green=positive)

How We Detect

The isothermal amplification process is a method for the rapid amplification of genetic material such as DNA or RNA. In contrast to other PCR methods, the reaction takes place at a constant temperature, which makes the method particularly practical. Special enzymes and primers produce large quantities of the desired genetic material in a short time. This method is often used for the rapid detection of pathogens, especially in simple laboratories or resource-limited areas, for example for point-of-care diagnostics in direct patient care.

What we Detect

Primers are the pathogen-specific building blocks in procedures such as PCR and isothermal amplification. They are short pieces of DNA that are used to mark a specific section of the target DNA.

Versatilility

Isothermal nucleic acid detection offers highly sensitive amplification of nucleic acids in the diagnosis of infectious diseases compared to conventional methods, leading to earlier detection of pathogens. The versatility of isothermal nucleic acid detection, which can target different nucleic acids, makes it more flexible than conventional point-of-need tests, which are limited to proteins. In addition, isothermal nucleic acid detection is well suited for point-of-need applications due to its isothermal nature and low temperature requirements. The method also better detects pathogen variants and mutations.

The Readout

We combine isothermal amplification with a visually recognizable pH indicator to achieve reliable, fast and easy-to-read yes-no answers with the highest precision. As the amplification of nucleic acids takes place, the pH of the reaction solution changes.
‍This simple visual evaluation can be particularly useful in resource-limited environments or point-of-need applications, as no sophisticated instrumentation or laboratory equipment is required. This combination of isothermal nucleic acid detection and visual pH indicators contributes to the efficiency and ease of use of the diagnostic method

Sample preperation

The purification of DNA or RNA prior to DNA/RNA amplification is crucial for the success of the process. First, it prevents the presence of inhibitors that could interfere with the amplification reaction by inhibiting the enzymes. Thorough purification improves the efficiency of amplification by removing unwanted substances that could interfere with efficiency.Furthermore, purification contributes to the reduction of non-specific background signals that could complicate the interpretation of results. By optimizing the sensitivity and specificity of isothermal amplification, high-quality purification enables precise and reliable diagnostic analyses of infectious agents.