Portable fingertip Hepatitis C test that gives rapid results and genotype
Point-of-care magnetofluidic HCV diagnostic using thermally responsive valves
A low-cost handheld test that uses a fingerprick of blood to quickly detect and identify active Hepatitis C infections, aimed at people who have trouble accessing lab testing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284071 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will create a small, portable Sample-To-Answer device that uses a disposable cassette and a handheld control unit so a clinic worker can run a test from a single fingerprick. The device automates fluid steps using thermally responsive alkane partitions (TRAPs) so manual rinses and precise reagent handling are not needed. A built-in lateral flow strip and magnetofluidic components are used to detect and genotype active Hepatitis C virus in the blood sample. The goal is to match the sensitivity and specificity of standard lab-based genomic tests while making results available at the point of care, including low-resource settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people at risk for Hepatitis C or those in clinics, outreach programs, or low-resource locations who need rapid, on-site confirmation of active infection from a fingerprick.
Not a fit: People who do not have Hepatitis C or those needing highly quantitative viral load monitoring or advanced resistance testing during therapy may not benefit from this diagnostic alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide same-visit Hepatitis C diagnosis and genotype information, reducing missed follow-up and speeding treatment decisions.
How similar studies have performed: Rapid antibody tests for Hepatitis C are common and a few point-of-care RNA platforms have shown promise, but this specific magnetofluidic cassette approach using thermally responsive valves is a novel, less-tested method.
Where this research is happening
College Park, United States
- Univ of Maryland, College Park — College Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Ian M — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: White, Ian M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.