Compact DNA-reader could help fight Ebola, TB and HIV

Cepheid has unveiled a compact, battery-powered, DNA-reading medical device which will aid the fight against Ebola, TB, HIV and other infectious diseases

California based device-maker Cepheid CPHD unveiled the Omni, at an analysts’ event in Atlanta.

At the presentation, chairman and CEO, John Bishop, said the company will also be applying early next year for FDA permission to use the device for point-of-care service in the US.

This could mean accelerated turnaround times for results allowing faster initiation of the correct therapeutic regimen and in the case of infectious diseases, reduce quarantine.

The Cepheid Omni comes with a rechargeable, four-hour battery but an attachable auxiliary battery can add another 12 hours of life to the device, giving the product a 16-hour runtime. Results can then be relayed to Cepheid’s databases via WiFi or mobile phone.

Though Cepheid’s existing FDA emergency-use authorisation (EUA) for its Ebola test requires the use of blood drawn by a needle in the arm Cepheid says it expects to receive European Commission approval next month for mouth swab and finger-stick blood versions, as well.

In the US Cepheid will first seek approval to use the Omni for detecting flu and strep at point-of-care.