Novel biosensor technology has multiple applications and has already been evaluated for environmental and food quality assurance, to detect contaminants such as mycotoxins and drug residues
Universal Sensors of Cambridge, which is contracted by Sensortec to carry out all R+D on its proprietary biosensor technology, is working with HFL to provide a test system to support the work of the Horse Regulatory Authority (HRA).
Currently, drugs testing rely on retrospective sample analysis at off-site laboratories, which result in expense and results that can take days if not weeks.
The HFL/Sensortec collaboration will develop tests to provide near instant results on-site at race meets.
The system will be based on Sensortec's low-cost biosensor platform that provides low-cost, point-of-use diagnostics.
A significant advantage of the system is the ability to handle undiluted plasma samples, and there is no pre-analysis sample preparation required.
This, together with the speed with which an Elisa method can be translated to the system, provides a package that can turn around results very quickly.
Assays for a number of drugs have been developed and validated by HFL with sensitivity in the parts per billion range.
Patented Sensortec technology provides a universally applicable electrochemical biosensor suitable for a whole range of diagnostic tests and other quantitative receptor-target binding assays requiring high analytical sensitivity.
Phil Teale, chief scientist at HFL said: "We and the HRA are working to provide drug testing procedures that give the best deterrent and detection to protect both the welfare of the horse and the reputation of the sport.
"The UK racing industry is one of the cleanest in the world: fast-working, low-cost, sensitive, point-of use system will give us a major advantage in the fight against horse doping, and help keep the industry clean".
Duncan Purvis of Universal Sensors said: "This is one of the first external validations of our system.
"HFL leads in both sports drug abuse control and research.
"The expertise in both our organisations has tremendous potential to be developed into a uniform, global testing procedure".
