FILODIAG · Project

Portable Laser-Based Ebola Test Delivers Molecular Diagnosis in Under 15 Minutes

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Imagine you need to test someone for Ebola, but the gold-standard lab test takes hours and requires a full laboratory. This project used laser-heated nanoparticles to speed up the DNA-copying process that makes the test work — like swapping a slow oven for a microwave. The result is a portable instrument that can run a molecular-level Ebola test in 10 to 15 minutes, right at the patient's bedside, using just a blood sample or even saliva. They already showed it can detect as few as 10 copies of Ebola DNA in under 12 minutes.

By the numbers

10–15 minutes

Time to molecular Ebola diagnosis at point of care

10 target copies

Detection sensitivity (synthetic DNA oligos)

< 12 minutes

Time for tentative assay to detect 10 copies

EUR 2,260,105

EU contribution to the project

4 partners, 3 countries

Consortium size and geographic spread

The business problem

What needed solving

Diagnosing Ebola accurately today requires either slow laboratory PCR tests (hours, specialized equipment) or fast antigen tests that miss many cases. During outbreaks in remote areas, neither option works well — labs are far away and rapid tests are unreliable. Healthcare responders need a test that is both fast and molecularly accurate, usable at the patient's bedside without laboratory infrastructure.

The solution

What was built

The project built an improved Pharos instrument — a portable device using laser-heated nanoparticles to perform ultra-fast PCR (Laser PCR). A tentative Ebola assay was demonstrated detecting 10 target copies of synthetic Ebola DNA in less than 12 minutes, with the system designed for multiplexed testing from blood, saliva, or urine samples.

Audience

Who needs this

IVD device manufacturers expanding into rapid infectious disease diagnosticsHumanitarian health organizations (MSF, WHO, Red Cross) responding to Ebola outbreaksHospital networks needing rapid screening for high-consequence pathogens at admissionNational public health agencies building pandemic preparedness infrastructureDefense and biosecurity agencies requiring portable biological threat detection

Business applications

Who can put this to work

In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD)

mid-size

Target: IVD device manufacturers developing rapid molecular testing platforms

If you are an IVD manufacturer looking to expand into infectious disease testing for outbreak settings — this project developed a laser-heated nanoparticle PCR system (Laser PCR) that cuts molecular test time to under 15 minutes. The improved Pharos instrument was built as a working prototype. Licensing or integrating this technology could let you offer point-of-care molecular diagnostics without the need for full laboratory infrastructure.

Humanitarian Health Operations

any

Target: NGOs and emergency health organizations managing disease outbreaks in low-resource settings

If you are a humanitarian health organization responding to Ebola or filovirus outbreaks in West Africa — this project built a rapid molecular diagnostic system tested at biosafety level 4 and designed for field deployment. It delivers results in 10–15 minutes from blood, saliva, or urine, replacing hours-long lab procedures. The system was specifically designed for low-resource point-of-care use.

Hospital Infection Control

enterprise

Target: Hospital networks and clinical laboratories needing rapid pathogen screening at point of entry

If you run a hospital or clinical lab that must screen incoming patients for high-consequence pathogens — this project produced a portable instrument that performs molecular-level Ebola diagnosis in 10–15 minutes at the point of care. Unlike rapid antigen tests, it offers PCR-level accuracy. The system detects as few as 10 target copies, matching gold-standard sensitivity without the hours-long wait.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this technology cost compared to standard PCR testing?

The project does not disclose per-test pricing or instrument cost. However, the system eliminates the need for a full PCR laboratory, which typically requires significant infrastructure investment. The total EU contribution to the project was EUR 2,260,105 across 4 partners over 3 years.

Can this scale beyond Ebola to other pathogens?

The objective mentions a potentially multiplexed diagnostic system, meaning it was designed to test for more than one pathogen simultaneously. The Laser PCR core technology heats and cools samples faster than conventional PCR, so in principle it could be adapted to detect other infectious agents. Based on available project data, the initial focus was filoviruses (Ebola).

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

The coordinator is HP Health Solutions Germany GmbH, an SME. The core Laser PCR technology was developed by the consortium partner GNA Biosolutions. Licensing inquiries would need to go through the consortium partners who hold the IP. SciTransfer can help facilitate that introduction.

Has this been tested on real patient samples?

The project planned biosafety level 4 laboratory testing at INMI in Rome, Italy, using live Ebola virus. Field testing was planned at a medical care centre in Sierra Leone. The tentative assay was validated with 10 copies of synthetic DNA oligos in less than 12 minutes.

How does this compare to existing rapid Ebola tests?

Standard rapid tests use antibody-based detection, which lacks sensitivity. Standard PCR is accurate but takes hours and needs a lab. This system combines PCR-level molecular accuracy with a 10–15 minute turnaround, bridging the gap between speed and accuracy for point-of-care settings.

Does this meet regulatory requirements for clinical diagnostics?

Based on available project data, there is no mention of CE marking, FDA clearance, or other regulatory approvals. The project ran from 2015 to 2017 under IMI2 (Innovative Medicines Initiative), which indicates pharmaceutical industry co-funding and a pathway toward clinical use, but regulatory status would need to be confirmed with the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

The FILODIAG consortium is compact — 4 partners from 3 countries (Germany, Italy, Czech Republic) with a clear division of labor. The coordinator, HP Health Solutions Germany GmbH, is an SME, which means the IP is likely held close to a commercialization-ready entity rather than locked in a university. The consortium includes 1 industrial partner, 1 university, and 1 research organization, giving it both scientific depth and a commercial anchor. The 25% industry ratio is modest but typical for an IMI2 project where pharma co-funding complements the EU contribution. The total EU investment of EUR 2,260,105 over 3 years is focused and lean, suggesting a technology that was already partially developed before the project started.

HP HEALTH SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBHCoordinator · DE
ISTITUTO NAZIONALE PER LE MALATTIE INFETTIVE LAZZARO SPALLANZANI-ISTITUTO DI RICOVERO E CURA A CARATTERE SCIENTIFICOparticipant · IT
EMERGENCY LIFE SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN WAR VICTIMS ONG ONLUSparticipant · IT
MENDELOVA UNIVERZITA V BRNEparticipant · CZ

How to reach the team

HP Health Solutions Germany GmbH (German SME) — SciTransfer can provide a warm introduction to the project coordinator

Order a report on this consortium See HP HEALTH SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing Laser PCR technology or integrating this rapid diagnostic into your product line? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the consortium. Contact us for a one-page brief and introduction.

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