Researchers in the UK have developed a groundbreaking AI-assisted molecular diagnostic platform that can accurately identify variants of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The portable and cost-effective device, known as VIDIIA Hunter (VH6), has the potential to play a crucial role in preventing future pandemics due to its versatility and high level of accuracy.
The platform, developed by scientists from the University of Surrey, Brunel University London, Lancaster University, the NHS, GB Electronics (UK) Ltd, and Vidiia Ltd, combines reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) technology with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based deep learning model. The AI model has been trained to analyze test results for infectious diseases, including COVID-19, eliminating user interpretation and errors while significantly improving accuracy.
The researchers tested the accuracy of VH6 by analyzing 150 clinical nasal swab samples from COVID-19 positive patients with various viral loads, as well as 250 negative samples provided by NHS Berkshire, Surrey Pathology, and Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The test demonstrated a detection rate of 98% and a specificity of 100%, proving its high level of accuracy. Additionally, the device successfully detected all COVID-19 variants that have been circulating in the UK since December 2020.
Dr. Aurore Poirier, the first and co-corresponding author of the study and Research Fellow B at the University of Surrey, highlighted the potential applications of the VH6 platform. Approved for COVID-19 testing in the UK, the device also has the capability to diagnose current and emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Its portability, speed, accuracy, and affordability make it suitable for near-patient testing in various laboratory and healthcare settings, including low-resource environments. As a result, the VIDIIA Hunter could help control future outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The VH6 test is connected to a smartphone app that enables operators to manage and track patients and samples. The app displays results and graphs within 20-30 minutes and automatically connects to a cloud for easy data storage. The platform’s capabilities extend beyond COVID-19, as it can also detect other infectious diseases like tuberculosis and dengue fever, as well as antimicrobial resistance.
Notably, the test can be used in both human and animal healthcare settings, which is crucial for identifying potential zoonotic diseases that could transfer between the two. Professor Muhammad Munir, Professor of Virology and Viral Zoonosis at Lancaster University, emphasized the significance of incorporating LAMP technology with advanced AI modules, enabling early, reliable, and cost-effective detection of infections such as COVID-19. The VH6 platform holds immense medical importance and has the potential to detect diseases in both humans and animals.
The VH6 has received approval for medical use in the United Kingdom under the UK Health Security Agency’s Medical Devices (Coronavirus Test Device Approvals, CTDA) Regulations 2022. It is also CE-IVD marked and MHRA registered, further establishing its credibility and reliability. With its enhanced accuracy and AI capabilities, the VH6 molecular diagnostic platform is poised to revolutionize COVID-19 testing and future disease surveillance, contributing to global efforts in mitigating the impact of infectious diseases.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
