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Low cost, point-of-care, uric acid detection kit

Country of Origin: Singapore
Reference Number: TOSG20180108005
Publication Date: 8 January 2018

Summary

A Singapore institute has developed a cost effective, paper-based, point-of care diagnostic device for the detection of uric acid levels. This easy-to-use diagnostic device can be used for quick diagnosis of gout, which is characterized by high serum urate levels. 

The institution seeks to partner SMEs, MNEs or research/healthcare institutions through licensing or research cooperation agreements.

Description

Gout is one of the most common and painful forms of inflammatory arthritis. It is characterized by elevated serum urate (sUA) levels in blood, an excess of which crystallises and gets deposited in joints, ligaments, and adjoining tissues causing severe pain, redness, and swelling. 



Gout is usually diagnosed by first assessing the severity of the pain and other symptoms. The gold standard of gout arthritis diagnosis is by examining the aspirate of uric acid crystals from the affected joint under microscope. Blood samples from patients have to be taken to determine serum uric acid levels. However, due to the lack of laboratory facilities in clinics, usually blood sampling is done for gout diagnosis and these blood samples are sent to laboratories for analysis. This process will take some time and delays the diagnosis and treatment. 



To address this problem, a low-cost, paper-based, point-of-care, uric acid detection diagnostic device has been developed called the UricAT. This diagnostic kit detects uric acid level from finger-pricked blood almost immediately. 



This diagnostic kit consists of the paper-based device along with the reagents, lancets, and alcohol swab. The uricase and peroxidase enzymes, and the substrates are immobilized and stabilized on the paper. This innovative device works based on the activities of these enzymes. 

UricAT test kit is a ‘Class B IVD Rule 4' device (HAS, Singapore). 



The institute is keen to establish partnerships with industry players (SMEs of all sizes, MNEs or research/healthcare institutions e.g. healthcare institution or healthcare technologies provider). 



The type of partnerships sought can either be:



i) Licensing of the technology where the partner could further develop it to offer as a product or service to their customers.



ii) Research cooperation where the partner can undertake joint development with the Singapore institute in introducing new products to the targeted markets.

Advantages and Innovations

This point of care uric acid detection kit can be used in the healthcare industry, such as in hospitals, primary healthcare facilities and diagnostic laboratories for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as gout and hyperuricemia.



The test does not require any battery-operated equipment or reader, making it a compact, easy-to-use diagnostic kit.



UricAT is a user-friendly diagnostic kit, which can be used easily by anyone, without requiring any skilled person to perform the test. Thus, it can be used remotely as a home diagnostic kit for diagnosing gout, enabling faster diagnosis and disease management decision making for patients.



UricAT is minimally invasive, requiring just a finger prick, making it more patient-friendly, compared to standard-of-care venepuncture blood sampling.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Requested partner

The Singapore institution seeks to work with SMEs, MNEs of all sizes or research/healthcare institutions in a licensing or research cooperation agreement partnership.



The partner sought could be a healthcare institution or healthcare technologies provider.



Under a licensing agreement:

- The partner can license the technology to offer as a product or service to their customers.



Under a research cooperation agreement:

- The partner can undertake joint development with the Singapore organization to offer to introduce new products to targeted markets/segments.