Quantico, the diagnostic platform developed by Viscera Technologies, was the runner-up in the ‘Best Digital Health Solution’ category at the Prix Galien UK Awards, which were hosted at the Natural History Museum in London.
Quantico is described as the next generation of lateral flow tests. It is the first to quantify biomarkers using a test strip, sample, and its proprietary smartphone camera app, which also corrects for ambient light and different camera optics. Such simplicity brings the power of the laboratory directly to the user or patient in any care or geographical setting. This, combined with its affordability compared to other point-of-care devices, means it also brings equity of access to diagnostics, enabling testing.
Quantico is a platform technology that can be adapted to detect many distinct biomarkers. The redesigned LFT comprises two interdependent testing lines, both considered testing lines. Unlike conventional LFTs, no control line is needed - any visible result inherently serves as both the test outcome and a validation of proper function. This is possible because the conjugate is not in excess and has a ‘dual’ competitive nature, where the test not only competes for analytes but also allows competition among the conjugates. The mechanism combines the action of both lines to enable the algorithmic components of Quantico, found in the smartphone reader application, to mitigate the effects of ambient light and differences in smartphone camera spectrum sensitivity. Allowing accurate quantitative results to be achieved, wherever the test is conducted.
Quantico has received EU patent approval (with international applications pending) for a significant number of claims covering both the hardware and software. The system is now ready for scaling and production, and with its plethora of potential applications, Viscera is seeking licensing partners for specific biomarkers and/or geographical territories.
Founder and CEO of Viscera Technologies, Henry Hollamby, commented on the award: “‘The Viscera team are delighted and extremely grateful that such a prestigious foundation has recognised our Quantico technology. There are numerous opportunities and unmet needs where Quantico can significantly improve health and wellbeing globally. Quantico holds a special place in developing countries with limited health infrastructure, where a simple, accessible diagnostic and monitoring test can substantially impact many medical conditions.”
Viscera Technologies was founded by Henry Hollamby while an undergraduate at UCL. It was originally set up to evaluate Helico, a LFT for a urinary biomarker indicating the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, a commonly occurring and key cause of peptic ulceration and gastric cancer. Quantico was conceived from the work done on this test and has since been the focus of Viscera’s work. Henry was placed on TechRound’s 29under29 in recognition of Viscera’s work on Quantico.
For further information, visit www.visceraltd.com.