ALine and Triple Ring Technologies partner around microfluidics
ALine specializes in the design and development of microfluidic consumables with applications in diagnostics and life sciences.
TRT is a technology-driven product development company that provides outsourced science and engineering services for large and small clients.
Dr Leanna Levine, president of Aline, said food safety is in the types of tests people are developing and opportunities are with companies interested in quality assurance beyond what is required for regulatory requirements.
She added the general model is a consumable for collecting and processing the sample with a small hand held or benchtop instrument.
“Microfluidics will find the most utility for multiplexed tests where identification of a specific pathogen among a panel of potential pathogens is desired (or GMO traits). For many tests, sample processing will also be important for achieving the sensitivity and selectivity of a test, and microfluidics also enables this critical aspect to the test protocol.”
Dr Levine said as with any test on commodity products, a low cost consumable is critical.
“The issue for many microfluidic applications is that while the total volume of tests may be large they are distributed among a number of different applications, resulting in a fragmented market where achieving the efficiency possible in high volume manufacture is difficult and as a result the business case becomes harder to realize,” she said.
“Being able to capture the consumer market with a variety of tests for health, wellness and safety, is the future for microfluidic applications.”
Dr Levine added microfluidics offers convenience and a result that is not confounded by user error as well as the ability to make measurements anywhere and have the data sent for analysis and storage remotely.
ALine and TRT said by working together they can better support the complex systems integration issues required to develop products for the diagnostics market.
“We really like ALine’s approach to microfluidic development, and the many ‘off the shelf’ fluidic solutions that we can integrate into our clients’ product design. Their manufacturing capability will allow us to scale quickly to meet our clients’ demanding ramp schedules,” said Dr Joe Heanue, CEO of Triple Ring Technologies.
