Biosecurity

Clueing in on Biomarkers For Detection

Similar to a classic board game, solving the mystery of “who done what, with what and where” can be a game of chance. Much is the case for a physician trying to distinguish between a bacterial or viral infection solely on physical symptoms, as many present similarly. However, deployed warfighters may not have the option to transport cumbersome diagnostic equipment, reducing proper diagnosis to deductive reasoning. Quickly differentiating between infections would allow warfighters to receive proper care as quickly as possible. 

If a deployed warfighter becomes infected with an unknown biological threat agent, providing the appropriate course of treatment can be the difference between readiness and disaster. Viral infections are impervious to antibiotic drugs, so rapidly identifying the cause is vital for treatment. 

As a part of its Host-Based Biomarker Discovery program, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department is tackling this problem by developing the ImmunoPOC™, a benchtop point-of-care diagnostic device. The device can differentiate between bacterial and viral infections within 15 minutes.