New disruptive technology developed by Israeli startup Azure PCR could make diagnosis of illness – whether it’s viral, bacterial or even fungal – instant.
The instant test that lets you diagnose your illness
Imagine waking up one morning with a cough or a sinus headache. Should you go into the office? Instead of trying to get a doctor’s appointment to find out if you are contagious, you go to the nearest pharmacy for an instant test to determine what kind of virus, bacteria or fungus you may have.
This scenario is not far from becoming reality, thanks to the Jerusalem-based subsidiary of Azure PCR. The company’s disruptive technology has streamlined the process of detecting, diagnosing and tracking infectious diseases.
“This is really important in terms of drug-resistant diseases,” says British-born CEO Aron Cohen, recalling how Muppets founder Jim Henson died in 1990, at age 53, from a drug-resistant bacterial infection before doctors had time to pinpoint the disease strain. “Had he been diagnosed right away, he might still be alive today.”
At this early stage, however, the company is not focusing on that future consumer application but on using its automatic DNA analysis technology in major global collaborations aimed at curbing the spread of viruses such as H1N1 or avian flu, in real time.
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