Apparatus and method for biomarker detection
AssigneeThe University Court of the University of Glasgow
InventorsDavid Robert Sime Cumming, Valerio Francesco Annese
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Abstract
A biomarker detection apparatus in which a CMOS-based chip is used to generate independent detection signals from a reaction zone that receives a biological sample, where the biological sample is provided to both a test region and positive and negative control regions within the reaction zone. The independent detection signals can be processed together (i.e. as a group of input parameters for an algorithm) to identify the presence of a biomarker (or a plurality of biomarkers) in a biological sample. The use of sample-specific, independently detectable positive and negative controls facilitates improved detection accuracy.
Claims20
A detection apparatus for detecting a biomarker in a biological sample, the detection apparatus comprising:
- a sample receiving module arranged to receive the biological sample in a reaction zone, the reaction zone comprising:
- a test region that is sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample;
- a positive control region that is sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample, and which includes a pre-loaded portion of the biomarker;
- and
- a negative control region that is not sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample;
- and
- a CMOS-based sensor unit configured to:
- independently detect a property of each of the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region, and
- output a respective detection signal for each of the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region,
- wherein the CMOS-based sensor unit is communicable with an analysis module that is configured to determine information related to a presence of the biomarker in the biological sample using the respective detection signals from the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region.
A system for detecting a biomarker in a biological sample, the system comprising:
- a detection apparatus;
- and
- an analysis module,
- wherein the detection apparatus comprises:
- a sample receiving module arranged to receive the biological sample in a reaction zone, the reaction zone comprising:
- a test region that is sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample;
- a positive control region that is sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample, and which includes a pre-loaded portion of the biomarker;
- and
- a negative control region that is not sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample;
- and
- a CMOS-based sensor unit configured to:
- independently detect a property of each of the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region, and
- output a respective detection signal for each of the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region,
- wherein the CMOS-based sensor unit is communicable with the analysis module, and
- wherein the analysis module is configured to determine information related to a presence of the biomarker in the biological sample using the respective detection signals from the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region.
A method of detecting a biomarker in a biological sample, the method comprising:
- introducing the biological sample into a reaction zone, the reaction zone comprising:
- a test region that is sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample,
- a positive control region that is sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample, and that includes a pre-loaded portion of the biomarker, and
- a negative control region that is not sensitive to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample;
- independently detecting, using a CMOS-based sensor unit, a property of each of the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region;
- outputting a respective detection signal for each of the test region, the positive control region, and the negative control region;
- and
- determining, using the respective detection signals from the test region, positive control region and negative control region, information related to presence of the biomarker in the biological sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.