An all-in-one automated diagnostic system called MicroKit will be ready for the global market by 2010 and will be able to conduct rapid, easy, and affordable tests for cancer, avian flu, and other infectious diseases. MicroKit was developed by Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and is being licensed to Dyamed Biotech, a company that distributes medical diagnostic devices in the Asia Pacific region. According to Jackie Ying, executive director of IBN, “Early detection of diseases such as cancer or avian flu is critical to enhancing a patient’s chances of survival. The treatment of diseases at the early stages is usually more effective and has a greater potential for improving the long-term health of the patient. Our portable and automated MicroKit is also easy to operate and may be used by non-clinical personnel for mass health screenings at strategic locations, such as airports, to contain epidemics of infectious diseases like H5N1 avian flu.” The product is disposable and self-contained for individual bio-sample analysis, and can produce results in six minutes to one hour, depending on the test. The article also states that this type of analysis is much faster than conventional laboratory testing and avoids costly laboratory inaccuracies caused by cross-contamination and human error. The article can be viewed online at the link below.

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