AF-16138 - Multi-analyst diagnostic methods to detect clinical mastitis in cows (BO-64-001-017, BO-46-002-016, BO-33.04-002-013)

The advantage of these multi-analyte diagnostic methods is that the platforms have been known for many years and, in the case of ELISA, can be fully automated on equipment that is widely available. In addition, low-cost reading equipment is available or will be further developed. Staff time to carry out such multi-analyte diagnostic methods would be the same as for a single-analyte test and, therefore, it is expected that testing can be carried out at much lower cost. This will also drive uptake of testing and encourage the exploitation of diagnostics to improve animal and food safety. The innovation of the new diagnostic devices will also rely on the ultra-low volume dispensing of reagents (down to 50 picoliter) in a microarray of spots that will enable the simultaneous detection of a range of risk factors in a single sample; 8x8 arrays per well in ELISA and 5x5 arrays in lateral flow tests. Machine vision technology will be applied to achieve the automated interpretation of multi-analyte diagnostic methods, objectify test outcomes and provide data management. An animal health-relevant multi-analyte test will be developed by the participants and marketed worldwide by Global DX. The test will detect several biomarkers in cow's milk to assess (sub)clinical mastitis. The meaning of the innovation for the sector will be the availability of highly efficient, multi-analyte diagnostic tests for the rapid (on-site) detection of cow's health and milk quality and safety risk factors. Furthermore, these new and innovative multi-analyte diagnostic tests can also be adopted by the scientific community to develop multi-analyte assays in other areas. For the society it means increased animal health and quality and safety of food products by timely and multi-analyte detection of risk factors. The innovation potential of the new multi-analyte diagnostic devices is high, especially in the human, veterinary, and (pet) food safety and health fields.