NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Rheonix announced today that it has received a $1.5 million Small Business Innovation Research Phase II grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue development of its fully automated self-confirming assay for the simultaneous detection of HIV/AIDS antibodies and viral RNA in a single specimen.
The system is designed to simplify HIV testing and eliminate the need for multiple visits by a patient to healthcare providers.
Under a now-completed SBIR Phase I grant, the company developed a proof-of-concept test based on its automated Rheonix Chemistry and Reagent Device platform, which performs sample extraction, purification, amplification, and detection.
The company said that the Phase II grant, which runs for 18 months, will be used to develop a commercial-ready test that will be deployed in the developing world.