Norwegian scientists develop rapid blood testing technology

NORWAY – SINTEF has announced the development of new rapid blood testing technology called the SpinChip. The SpinChip was invented by Stig Morten Borch of SINTEF research center and developed for commercialization with the help of internal SINTEF funding (SEP projects) and funds from the Research Council of Norway’s FORNY Programme.

The SpinChip uses a centrifuge to spin a small microfluidic chip, which separates a blood sample into solid and liquid components that react in separate tiny channels without the need for pumps or valves. Optical reading of the results can be obtained within a couple of minutes.

Further development of the technology is being done by the newly registered company SpinChip Diagnostics, launched February this year. SINTEF has licensed the technology with two patents, and has signed up Tronrud Engineering as a co-investor.

Development of the technology will continue until 2015, with the help of the Research Council of Norway in financing via a User-driven Research-based Innovation (BIA) project that is currently being launched.

“In the course of 2013, SpinChip Diagnostics will start to hire its own staff, and in the first quarter of the year we will also invite new investors to join the company. We have about 20 investors in our sights,” said Jostein Bj?rdal of SINVENT, SINTEF’s research commercialization company.

Related info: SpinChip analyses blood samples on the spot