Carclo Diagnostic Solutions Ltd (CDS) is developing a range of disposable devices for performing quantitative and qualitative assays in a non-laboratory location. Unlike most other systems, there is no requirement for any external or additional instrumentation, i.e. the devices are fully self-contained.

The basis of the approach is the use of a series of modular technologies that can be linked in various combinations to adapt the core microfluidic system to a variety of assays and formats. To showcase some of the possibilities, CDS is developing prototype systems to demonstrate proof of principle of the concepts. CDS’s business strategy is to license the technologies to interested third parties.

CDS has developed three device formats, termed micropoc.

• Micropoc-lite: a qualitative device which could be used for Blood Group testing and, theoretically, for Allergies, etc. The test result is provided by a simple, non-electronic mechanism, ie a visual (yes/no) result.
• Micropoc-cat: a quantitative device based on Capillary Agglutination Technology with a simple electronic display. The device could be used for assays such as D-Dimer, Blood coagulation, etc.
• Micropoc-pro: a quantitative device used to detect colour change or fluorescence. It may be used to transfer existing assays from an ELISA format to a POC platform.