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July 2000
£235,000
Nano technology
http://mermaid-diagnostics.co.uk

Mermaid Diagnostics are developing quick and easy-to-use colorimetric assays which can be carried out without the need for sophisticated equipment. The tests are incorporated into a patented device called SafeTube, which keeps the reagents discrete prior to use and secure after the introduction of the test material. The first application of the technology is SmokeScreen, a urine test for smoking, specifically measuring all the breakdown products of nicotine including cotinine. This can be used to correctly identify smokers, for a semi-quantitative measure of nicotine intake or with a dedicated instrument to quantify smoking habit. A more sensitive version can detect nicotine metabolites in saliva and passive smoking levels in urine. Other tests are under development, for example providing a means to assess treatment compliance for tuberculosis, detecting the presence of Isoniazid in urine.