Argonaut Manufacturing Services, a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) serving the biopharma, life sciences and molecular diagnostics industries, has launched of BioFuse Sample Prep device. BioFuse is a disposable cartridge solution that enables seamless integration of lyophilized reagents, sample filtration and removal of pipetting steps to simplify complex assay workflows. BioFuse requires no electricity or instrumentation and requires simple processing steps: addition of sample (e.g., swab stored in VTM or Lysis buffer) to a mixing tube, placement of the BioFuse cap onto the mixing tube, invert by hand to dissolve the lyophilized reagent(s), snapping open the dose-specific dispensing nozzle, and squeezing to load the BioFuse assay contents to an instrument or device (e.g., POCT, OTC, qPCR, lateral flow strip).

“BioFuse is a tremendous advancement toward POCT assay simplification,” said Wayne Woodard, CEO of Argonaut. “Diagnostic developers will be pleased with the ability to customize BioFuse to their assay parameters, instrument manufacturers will appreciate not only simplifying their device but also opening their platforms to more assays, and of course end-users will find the simplicity of the device refreshing as opposed to the ever-more complex tests they usually face.”

BioFuse components are modular and can be customized in multiple configurations according to dosing requirements, filtering, fill volumes of diluent, and lyophilized reagents. BioFuse supports key molecular assays including PCR, isothermal amplification, lateral flow, and colorimetric tests.

“BioFuse is an Argonaut enabling technology, leveraging our expertise in lyophilization and assay workflow simplification,” said Mark Nowakowski, chief technology officer, Argonaut. “As a result, our clients are able to offer their products in the POCT and OTC markets.”