Revolutionary biosensor technology may transform mpox diagnosis

A new variant of monkeypox has caused 5% mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2023, leading the World Health Organization to declare it a Public Health Emergency. Researchers from the University of California School of Medicine and Boston University have developed a rapid diagnostic tool using an optical biosensor to detect monkeypox quickly and accurately. This technology can diagnose the disease at the point of care, unlike the expensive and time-consuming PCR method. The biosensor, called Pixel-Diversity interferometric reflectance imaging sensor, or PD-IRIS, was used to detect samples of monkeypox virus, achieving results in just 20 minutes. The biosensor assay was shown to accurately distinguish monkeypox from other viruses with similar symptoms like herpes simplex and cowpox. The researchers are working towards commercialization of the test to make it available in clinics, especially in areas with limited healthcare resources. Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. The technology developed by the researchers aims to prevent outbreaks like monkeypox from escalating into global pandemics by enabling faster diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

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