Technology Review takes a look at Nanosphere's Verigene, a tool that uses both microfluidics and nanotechnology to screen DNA from a blood sample. "We believe the benefit of our system is that this simple cartridge format could be run in any hospital, even a doctor's office," the company's chief executive says. "We're moving complex testing to the point of patient care." Instead of testing taking days, Nanosphere is developing their product to do so in an hour or two.
"If it works, this could be a convenient way for physicians and coagulation clinics to incorporate pharmacogenomic information into warfarin dosing," adds Karen Weck, who directs UNC-Chapel Hill's molecular genetics laboratory.