The Randox Discovery, an innovative diagnostic analyser that can consolidate molecular and immunoassay testing on one compact benchtop platform, has received the 2021 Red Dot Award for High Design Quality.
Red Dot, which has become established as one of the top profile product design awards, has roots dating back as far as 1955 and determines the best products created each year. Recognised as one of the largest global product competitions for innovation excellence, this sought-after seal for quality design attracts submissions from over 50 countries, across 49 different categories including medical devices and technology.
Dr Stuart Jackson, Randox Project Design Engineer, commented: “‘Randox is delighted to have achieved the Red Dot Design Award, the culmination of five years of development and coordination of engineering design teams spanning two continents. The Discovery is a particular innovation capable of automating Randox Biochip molecular diagnostics assays, from sample lysis and end-point PCR to multiplexing detection, with accessibility and ease of use at the forefront of the design.”
Dolmen were briefed by the Randox team to develop a creative and dynamic way to showcase the cutting-edge inner workings of the Discovery. Essentially, to turn the magic of the machine into a piece of theatre; not just a tool, but the centre of attention, a focal point for the laboratory that has excellent usability and accessibility throughout. Dolmen and Randox collaborated closely to deliver a revolutionary instrument that, among its many abilities, is a COVID-19 diagnostic analyser that is the first of its kind.
Chris Murphy, CEO and Design Director, Dolmen Design and Innovation, commented: “We are delighted that our collaboration with Randox has delivered another Red Dot Design Award for our team. Randox as a team truly values the power of design and how it can deliver better outcomes for end users. It is also wonderful to see our designs delivering positive change at the frontline of the COVID pandemic. This project was hugely collaborative, and we look forward to more collaborations in the future.”
What makes the Discovery special is its ability to conduct the full testing process, inclusive of sample preparation techniques such as extraction, purification, amplification and detection, in one highly intelligent, fully integrated space. The preparation of COVID-19 samples before testing was once lengthy and time-consuming, requiring a separate, sterilised laboratory for each stage, but can now be conducted onboard and by the fully automated Discovery platform, allowing a single operator to run multiple molecular tests simultaneously.
Combining almost 40 years of diagnostics into one platform, bringing multiple laboratories into one, the COVID-19 diagnostic analyser is the first of its kind to combine sample preparation techniques and Biochip Technology.