Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Device to Detect and Differentiate Ebola and Marburg Virus Species

Outbreaks of high-consequence pathogens such as Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus pose serious threats to global health, especially in remote regions where access to reliable and rapid diagnostics is limited. Traditional centralized diagnostic models are slow and resource-intensive, making them ineffective during emergent health crises. In many cases, timely treatment and containment are hindered by the lack of point-of-care tools that can deliver quick and accurate detection of these viruses. Now, researchers are developing a rapid, portable diagnostic solution capable of detecting and differentiating filoviruses from small blood samples within 30 minutes, supporting timely responses in both field and clinical settings.

Aptitude Medical Systems (Goleta, CA, USA) is advancing the development of the Metrix Filovirus Panel using its next-generation molecular diagnostics platform, Metrix. The Metrix Filovirus Panel is designed as a compact, user-friendly diagnostic device that provides lab-quality performance in decentralized settings. It works with venous or fingerstick blood samples, making it suitable for use even in resource-limited environments. The panel expands the capabilities of the Metrix platform to include blood-based applications for the first time, advancing its utility beyond previously authorized COVID-19 and flu tests.

Aptitude is continuing with the development, validation, and regulatory clearance of the Metrix Filovirus Panel in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is providing USD 9 million in funding. The company envisions broad deployment of the technology to support early detection and containment of viral outbreaks. By reducing dependence on centralized labs and enabling low-cost, point-of-care molecular diagnostics, the solution empowers healthcare providers and public health systems to respond more effectively.

“The Metrix Filovirus Panel is designed to deliver rapid, reliable results in challenging settings, enabling timely treatment and containment of outbreaks, breaking reliance on traditional centralized models which simply do not scale well in the face of an emergent threat,” said Scott Ferguson, PhD, CEO of Aptitude Medical Systems.

"Point-of-care diagnostics are essential for effectively addressing outbreaks of high-consequence pathogens like Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus species," added JP Wang, PhD, CTO, President, and Executive Chairman of Aptitude. "This collaboration enables the use of blood samples on the Metrix platform, for the first time, significantly expanding the power of the platform to a wide range of applications."

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