NEW YORK – DiagMetrics, a Madison, Connecticut-based developer of rapid diagnostics, announced on Wednesday that it has been awarded $938,784 in Phase 1 funding from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) RADx Tech program. The award will support the development and validation of a mask-based assay to aid in the detection of COVID-19 in people with disabilities and has the potential for Phase 2 funding, the firm said in a statement.
DiagMetrics' Mask-Based Diagnostic (MBD) uses exhaled breath condensate (EBC) to detect biomarkers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The test enables users with disabilities to perform COVID-19 testing by themselves.
"The user simply puts on a mask, presses a button to activate the test, and breathes normally for a few minutes," John Daniels, cofounder and CEO of DiagMetrics, said in a statement. "The proprietary biosensor and electronics with audio instructions will guide the user through the test and announce the results in a few minutes."
DiagMetrics said it is also developing tests using EBC to detect other conditions such as influenza A and B and respiratory syncytial virus.
The RADx Tech program is currently supporting the development of accessible over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.