A mobile device for screening the cytomegalovirus at the newborn's bed
Abstract
Since rubella vaccine was established, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has become the most frequent cause of congenital infections. Before deciding of the benefit of screening in this populations, the French Health Authority (HAS) is urging a diagnosis at birth for newborns. Since no screening device is commercially available, a consortium has been established to set-up an original device. The consortium consists of 3 academic institutions and 2 private companies, and the study has been funded by the French National Research Agency. The device consists of a disposable cartridge containing the biological sample and the reactive liquids required for immunofluorescencence detection on a functionalized surface. It also consists of a mobile reader used to drive the fluids onto the biosensor and to ensure the optical measurement. Up to now, positive and negative samples can be discriminated with a fluorescence intensity ratio of 3.