Infectious diseases have been a constant cause of non-battlefield injury and illness for military personnel engaged in operations throughout the world. Detection of these infectious pathogens is critical to proper patient care and management of outbreaks, yet many existing diagnostic tests fail to provide adequate sensitivity and/or simplicity for use in forward locations or in isolated areas. We propose to develop a solution for a high-sensitivity, low-complexity multiplexed POC diagnostic testing that addresses and resolves each of these challenges through the application or our unique and differentiated technologies. At the heart of this concept is our patent pending Specimen Delivery System (Paratus SDS) that will allow for the acquisition of a relevant quantity of patient specimen (including swab, blood or urine) by a medic or other military personnel, perform sample preparation and deliver the sample on to a unique paper-based analytical device (PAD) integrated into the cartridge for multiplexed detection of diverse pathogens (viral, bacterial, and protozoan). A reusable mating adapter will extend functionality by magnetic specimen separation and concentration, as well as smartphone-based imaging and App-based notification of results to the warfigther that they have tested positive/negative for a particular condition that requires further medical evaluation.
