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The MoU lays out the framework of the cooperation, which will include utilization of SCIENION’s world-class design and manufacturing capabilities to finalize equipment designs and manufacturing processes for the cost-effective and high throughput production of flowDx enabled LFTs.

flowDx allows precise control of fluidic flows in a LFT, enabling capabilities including parallel multiplexing, enhanced accuracy, and semi-quantitative results. 

This pioneering technology is the result of more than seven years of academic research, conducted mainly via funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) – one of the world’s leading institutes for photonics research at the University of Southampton. 

Dr Julian Kirby, Business Development Manager at SCIENION UK, said: “HDx’s flowDx technology represents a generational leap forward in lateral flow device design. We are excited about the potential of working with HDx to scale this technology and bring these next generation devices to mass production.”

flowDx has enormous potential for broad, large-scale application within the LFT market, which has recently seen dramatic expansion and public acceptance as COVID-19 rapid tests have taken on an important role in pandemic management. 

Dr Collin Sones, CTO of Highfield Diagnostics Ltd, said: “SCIENION is a world-leading manufacturer for LFT equipment with their ability for precision dispensing, and this is exactly what we require for the large-scale manufacture of our bespoke devices. During the work that we have done together to date, the SCIENION team have impressed us deeply with their technical brilliance and culture of innovation. With our collaboration, we look forward to further crediting SCIENION’s sterling reputation and market leadership.  We are especially excited about SCIENION’s in-house high volume LFT production capacity and leveraging that capacity for HDx products.”

flowDx technology has been developed to be low cost and easy to incorporate into large-scale manufacture of LFTs. “We believe that with SCIENION, we will be able to achieve a cost impact of less than one penny per test while maintaining existing manufacturing speeds,” Prof Robert Eason, Director of HDx, said.

HDx will utilize flowDx in partnership with global diagnostics companies and with the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine to develop proprietary, point-of-care diagnostic solutions to address the most urgent and challenging problems in global health.  

About Highfield Diagnostics Ltd

Highfield Diagnostics (HDx) is a spin-out from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre and is poised to create the next generation of rapid point-of-care diagnostics using its pioneering, patented technology. The HDx team has over 25 years of academic and practical experience and works with clinical teams and diagnostics manufacturers around the world to research, design and develop laser-patterned, precision paper-based diagnostics.