Abstract

Advancing the Performance of Low Cost Diagnostics For Global Health

Bernhard Weigl, Director, Center for In-Vitro Diagnostics, Intellectual Ventures/Global Good

We will present lab and field results with recently developed lateral flow and similar assays for global health. Our group’s mission is to develop assays for use in global health applications that are as sensitive as the best conventional diagnostic assays (in some cases even better) while retaining cost, simplicity, and usability advantages. For our lateral flow assay work we have developed a 3D modeling platform for paper-based assays and are using it to determine the theoretical limit of a particular assay variant, as well as a rapid array-based empirical optimization system for lateral flow assays. Together, these approaches allow the development of more sensitive assays with shortened development time. We will describe the assay optimization methods we employ, as well the use of these methods in the development of several assays under development, including ones for malaria, and TB.