Bio-pen Detects Toxins, Viruses, and Bacteria

A device that looks like a normal pen can monitor, detect, and identify unwanted elements in various fluids.

The BioPen Company, located at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Beer Sheva, Israel), has developed a BioPen with electro-optics contained in its tip. The fiber probes are ultra-sensitive and can detect virtually any bacteria or virus. "The pen is an all-inclusive diagnostic device,” said Professor Robert Marks of the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev and Department of Biotechnology Engineering. "It can test any fluid, from plain water to biological fluids, blood and urine samples, all the way to detecting toxins, viruses or bacteria in body fluids or environmental contamination.”

The BioPen tests liquids automatically and within 20 minutes displays a digital readout of the result on a small liquid crystal display (LCD). Collected data are transmitted to a personal computer (PC) for storage and backup as well as for further analysis. BioPen contains a built-in enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) for rapid field test requirements.

"Our key customers will be hospitals and healthcare services,” said Professor Marks. In addition, campers will find it useful for determining whether water is safe to drink.

BioPen was demonstrated at the Biomed 2006 conference held in Jerusalem (Israel) in May 2006.



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Ben-Gurion University of the Negev