Imagine waiting weeks to find out if your pigs are sick — by then, the disease has already spread across the farm. SWINOSTICS built a handheld device that works like a pregnancy test but for pig viruses. You swab the animal, plug the sample into a small portable box using light-based chip sensors, and get results for 6 different diseases in just 10 minutes — right there in the barn, no lab needed.
Pig farmers and veterinarians today must send samples to a laboratory and wait up to several weeks to confirm which disease is affecting their herd. During that waiting period, a contagious virus like African Swine Fever can spread to neighboring farms, leading to mass culling, trade bans, and devastating financial losses. There is no reliable, portable tool that gives lab-quality results for multiple swine diseases right at the farm.
The project built a portable diagnostic device based on photonic integrated circuit biosensors that detects 6 major swine viruses (ASF, PRRS, CSF, PCV2, PPV, SIV) in 10 minutes using 5 samples simultaneously. A companion mobile app was also delivered for field data management.
If you are a pig farm operator dealing with the constant threat of African Swine Fever or PRRS outbreaks — this project developed a portable diagnostic device that tests 5 samples simultaneously for 6 major swine diseases and delivers results in 10 minutes. Instead of sending samples to a lab and waiting weeks, your vet can run the test on-site and make quarantine decisions the same day.
If you are a veterinary diagnostics company looking to expand into point-of-care testing for livestock — this project developed a field-ready device based on photonic integrated circuit biosensors with lab-grade sensitivity. The technology covers 6 swine diseases including ASF, PRRS, CSF, PCV2, PPV, and SIV, with a companion mobile app for data management.
If you are a meat processing company that needs to verify incoming livestock health status before slaughter — this project developed a rapid multiplex screening device that checks for 6 viral diseases in 10 minutes using 5 samples at once. This means you can screen animals at the gate and reject contaminated batches before they enter your supply chain.
The project data does not include specific pricing for the device. However, the technology is based on silicon photonic integrated circuits, which are designed for mass production at low unit cost. The real savings come from eliminating weeks of waiting for lab results during which a disease can spread across an entire herd.
The device processes 5 samples simultaneously with results in 10 minutes, which makes it practical for screening at commercial scale. It was designed specifically as a portable field tool — meaning it works in barn conditions, not just in controlled lab environments.
The consortium of 10 partners across 6 countries developed this technology. The coordinator is CY.R.I.C Cyprus Research and Innovation Center (an SME). The device uses a patented nano-deposition technology as one of its core components. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium partners.
The device covers 6 major swine diseases: African Swine Fever (ASF), Porcine Parvovirus (PPV), Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), and Swine Influenza Virus (SIV). These are among the most economically damaging diseases in pig farming worldwide.
The project was designed to comply with STAR-IDAZ objectives, which is the international research consortium on animal health. Based on available project data, the device aims for analytical quality matching commercial laboratories. Regulatory approval for field use would depend on national veterinary authorities in each market.
Yes. The project delivered a mobile app (Output of Task 4.1) designed to work with the diagnostic device. Based on available project data, this would allow veterinarians to log results, track disease patterns, and share data digitally from the field.
The project ran as an Innovation Action from 2017 to 2021, which means it was focused on bringing lab-verified technology closer to market. The device is based on 3 lab-verified concepts that were integrated into a portable unit. Commercial deployment would require manufacturing scale-up and regulatory clearances.
The SWINOSTICS consortium brings together 10 partners from 6 European countries (Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Poland), with a balanced mix of 4 industry players, 4 universities, and 2 research organizations. Notably, 4 partners are SMEs and the industry ratio stands at 40%, which signals a strong commercial orientation rather than a purely academic exercise. The coordinator, CY.R.I.C from Cyprus, is itself an SME — meaning the project was led by a market-driven organization. This composition suggests the technology was developed with real-world deployment in mind, not just scientific publication.
CY.R.I.C Cyprus Research and Innovation Center LTD (Cyprus, SME) — contact via SciTransfer for introduction
Want to test this diagnostic technology on your farm or integrate it into your veterinary product line? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the development team.
