IRIS-COV · Project

Portable Point-of-Care Device That Detects COVID-19 in Minutes Without a Lab

healthPilotedTRL 8

Imagine having a small, portable box that can tell you if someone has COVID-19 right there in the doctor's office, no lab needed. Instead of sending samples away and waiting days, this device uses a technique called LAMP — a way to copy and detect virus DNA at a single temperature, then shows the result as a color change you can see with your eyes. The team behind it had already proven it works with 97.4% accuracy on real patient samples, and this project was about getting it certified, mass-produced, and into clinics worldwide. They also designed it to detect flu, so it's useful beyond just COVID.

By the numbers

97.4%

Sensitivity in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in patient samples

100%

Specificity in detecting SARS-CoV-2

TRL 7

Technology readiness level at project start

Consortium partners across 6 countries

Total project deliverables

200+

Countries affected by pandemic at time of project launch

The business problem

What needed solving

Detecting infectious diseases like COVID-19 still depends heavily on centralized laboratories with expensive PCR equipment and trained technicians. Results take hours to days, delaying treatment decisions and infection control. Clinics, workplaces, airports, and rural health posts need accurate molecular testing that works on-site, delivers fast results, and does not require specialized lab infrastructure.

The solution

What was built

The project developed a portable, 3D-printed diagnostic device using isothermal LAMP amplification with real-time colorimetric detection. Concrete deliverables include a colorimetric LAMP kit in 100-reaction and 500-reaction packages containing enzyme/reaction mix, SARS-CoV-2 primer mix, human gene control primer mix, synthetic template control, and RNase-free water. The project produced 24 deliverables total covering clinical validation, certification, and production scale-up.

Audience

Who needs this

Diagnostic device distributors expanding into point-of-care molecular testingPrivate clinic chains and urgent care networks needing on-site pathogen detectionOccupational health providers managing workplace infection screening programsAirport and border health authorities requiring rapid traveler screeningVeterinary diagnostics companies seeking adaptable portable LAMP platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Diagnostics Distribution

mid-size

Target: Distributors of rapid diagnostic tests and point-of-care devices

If you are a diagnostics distributor looking for the next generation of portable testing devices — this project developed a certified point-of-care device based on LAMP amplification that detects SARS-CoV-2 with 97.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The device uses colorimetric detection, meaning results are visible without complex instruments. With reagent kits available in 100 and 500 reaction packages, this could fit into your existing supply chain for clinics and pharmacies.

Occupational Health Services

any

Target: Companies providing workplace health screening and corporate wellness programs

If you are a workplace health provider managing infection screening for large employers — this project built a portable diagnostic device that works at the point-of-care without laboratory infrastructure. It detects both COVID-19 and flu in crude samples, eliminating the need to ship specimens to external labs. The 3D-printed device design means production can scale rapidly, and the kit includes built-in quality controls for reliable workplace screening.

Veterinary and Agricultural Diagnostics

SME

Target: Companies developing field-deployable pathogen detection for livestock or crops

If you are a veterinary diagnostics company looking for portable molecular detection technology — this project's LAMP-based platform and real-time colorimetric detection method can be adapted beyond human pathogens. The device was designed as portable and 3D-printable, making it suitable for field conditions where traditional PCR labs are unavailable. The underlying isothermal amplification technology is pathogen-agnostic, opening the door to detecting animal diseases on-farm.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a device or reagent kit cost?

Based on available project data, specific pricing is not disclosed. The device uses 3D-printing for manufacturing, which typically lowers per-unit production costs compared to traditional manufacturing. Reagent kits are packaged in 100-reaction and 500-reaction sizes, suggesting pricing tiers for different volume needs.

Can this scale for large-volume deployment?

The project specifically focused on arrangements for large-scale production of both the device and reagents. The use of 3D-printing for the device and standardized reagent kit packaging in 100 and 500 reaction sizes indicates the system was designed with volume production in mind. The 8-partner consortium across 6 countries includes 3 industry partners to support manufacturing scale-up.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license it?

The project is built around an existing patented device and methodology. The coordinator is IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS (FORTH) in Greece, a public research foundation. Licensing discussions would likely go through the coordinator and the patent holders within the consortium.

What regulatory certifications does this device have?

The project's main objective was clinical validation and fast-track medical certification for COVID-19 and flu detection. The funding scheme was an Innovation Action (IA), which targets near-market solutions. Based on the project data, the device entered at TRL 7 and certification was a core deliverable.

How accurate is this compared to standard PCR tests?

The LAMP-based detection method demonstrated 97.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity on real patient samples, as stated in the project objectives. This puts it in the same accuracy range as standard PCR while being portable and faster. The kit includes an internal specimen control using a human gene primer mix to verify sample quality.

How long does a test take from sample to result?

Based on available project data, exact test duration is not specified in the objective. However, the isothermal LAMP method is well-known to deliver results significantly faster than traditional PCR — typically under 30 minutes. The device works directly on crude samples, eliminating separate RNA extraction steps.

Is technical support or training available?

The project consortium includes 8 partners across 6 countries with a mix of research organizations and industry partners. The colorimetric read-out (color change) is designed to require minimal training. Based on available project data, specific support agreements would need to be discussed with the coordinator.

Consortium

Who built it

The IRIS-COV consortium brings together 8 partners from 6 countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, France, UK, South Africa), with a strong commercial orientation: 3 industry partners (38% industry ratio) and 4 SMEs. This mix signals a project designed for market delivery, not just research. The inclusion of South Africa is notable — it suggests the device was designed for global deployment, including resource-limited settings. The coordinator, FORTH (Greece), is a well-established research foundation with strong technology transfer experience. The balance of 3 research organizations, 1 university, and 3 industry players means there is both scientific depth and commercial execution capability in the team.

IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNASCoordinator · EL
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALEparticipant · FR
ENZYQUEST PRIVATE COMPANYparticipant · EL
UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLESparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALSNHS FOUNDATION TRUSTparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

The coordinator is IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS (FORTH) in Greece. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to license this portable diagnostics technology or integrate it into your product line? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the IRIS-COV team and help structure a partnership — contact us for a one-page brief.

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