As the COVID-19 pandemic rages worldwide, rapid testing with automated detection systems is urged for effective diagnosis and infection control. Early detection is essential for timely treatment and prevention. However, current diagnostic methods face limitations in long reaction time, high costs, or require specialists to conduct labour-intensive procedures. Our system - QuickCAS is a rapid, fully automated and accurate pathogen detection system using a revolutionary microrobotic sensing technology, benefitting both clinicians and patients. QuickCAS aims to prevent infectious outbreak and saving lives by providing clinicians/patients with instant, accurate and effortless diagnosis through innovative microrobotic technology. Our microrobots can be designed to detect various toxin/virus/bacteria with high selectivity. The automated process also reduces the infection risk of technician during detection due to minimized exposure. Our first product QuickCAS targets the detection of C. difficile infection, one of the most typical infections in hospitals. QuickCAS can be applicable to batch and multiplex detection of different pathogens, including* COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella, Pathogenic E. coli. and H. pylori.

 

* Under development with Department of Microbiology, CUHK

 

新冠肺炎肆虐全球，快速檢測的需求飆升。快速檢測對於及時治療及預防傳染病極為重要。然而，現存的檢測方法一般需要較長的時間、較高成本和需要化驗師進行繁複的程序。QuickCAS利用嶄新的微型機械人技術，可於短時間內準確探測特定病原體，有助加強病毒診斷和減輕醫療系統負擔。系統操作簡單，可紓緩現時檢測需求的壓力及降低檢測過程中受感染風險。第一代的產品QuickCAS針對檢測難辨梭菌、一種常見的院內感染病原體。QuickCAS可擴展至批量及多工檢測病原體，包括* 新冠肺炎、肺炎鏈球菌、沙門氏菌、病原性大腸桿菌及幽門螺旋菌等。

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* 與香港中文大學微生物學系研發中