New device for detecting Sexually Transmitted Diseases

A portable device developed by IK4 Technological Alliance and capable of detecting, in less than half an hour, chlamydia, the presence of the human papiloma virus - inductor of cancer of the uterus – and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) is about to be launched on the market. It will be sold in India in 2012 with the aim of contributing to the diagnosis of these kinds of pathologies. With a population estimated at 1,198 million inhabitants, it is calculated that more than 82.5 million people are affected by one of these pathologies in India. Of particular concern is chlamydia, a silent disease in 90% of the cases, transmitted by sexual contact and affecting women only. With incidence also in Europe, chlamydia can affect the brain, cause blindness and provoke abortions, premature birth or the premature breaking of the membranes, and it is also a key factor in the high degree of infant morbidity or of infertility.

The rapid and low-cost diagnosis device, developed by the IK4 GAIKER and IKERLAN centres, will enable the detection of the presence of STDs and other infectious agents in much less time than with the current conventional systems of microbiological culture or molecular detection. This technological development, not needing the infrastructure of a laboratory, undertakes complex detection techniques based on clinical samples, and is more efficacious and economic than other current rapid techniques.