BioCifer is focussed on the development of novel and disruptive diagnostic testing technology platforms for the rapid and accurate detection of bacteria, parasites and viruses.
BioCifer has developed a highly sensitive molecular genetics diagnostic platform, designed to be deployed in-lab, in-field and at the point of care to rapidly improve the speed of disease and pathogen detection.
Lying at the core of BioCifer’s cutting-edge technology is the development of a fast and simple three-step process to prepare samples for total nucleic acid testing. The development of our TNA-Cifer Reagent E for example, enables simple and effective preparation of biological samples for molecular testing of total nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Data generated to date1 has demonstrated the effectiveness of this reagent for rapidly preparing a variety of biological sample types including nasal swabs, blood, tissue and mosquitoes, from both human and animal pathogens.
Taking as little as 10 minutes or less, the BioCifer testing protocol has enabled the rapid and accurate detection of a range of different pathogens and diseases, including Malaria (caused by Plasmodium sp. parasites), COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus) and Dengue virus.
Importantly, TNA-Cifer Reagent E has also been shown to inactivate some pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, providing an added level of safety for health workers and laboratories testing samples. The BioCifer platform is adaptable to bacteria, parasites and viruses because it uses molecular genetics and not antigen-antibody tests, enabling specific reagents to be built in weeks rather than months.
This research has attracted funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and BioCifer testing technology is now being applied for detection of highly pathogenic diseases such as Ebola, Nipah, and Hendra viruses.