The arm-b skin-allergy diagnostics patch is a compact, easy to apply, low-cost allergy testing product.
Allogen Biotech is innovating the ARM-B allergy diagnostics patch technology for use in the healthcare sector and home-test markets. The company’s advanced biosensor concept draws on the simplicity and reliability of traditional skin-prick procedures, yet provides improved clinical outcomes and patient experience. The Allogen innovation is engineered as 50 mm stick-on disc-shaped patch, composed of a microarray device, which identify panels of allergic reactions. Each type of allergic response is interpreted as electrical impedance changes at individual biosensors. The allergy specialist acquires the test results in 5 minutes on a wide panel of common or specific allergens. The sensors register the degree of severity of an allergic reaction and may provide further information on specific testing. The ARM-B system offers unique advantages for the allergy therapist and patients alike. The patch device is non-intrusive – no need to pen-mark or prick large areas of skin: ARM-B microarray extends only 30 mm. The tine-microelectrode structure of the biosensor component ensures ultra-low invasiveness, penetrating only a few hundred microns of epidermis, not millimetre skin-prick depths. Therefore the ARM-B test offers a pain free consultation. The in vivo patch uses only picomole/nL, of a purified allergen microgel, minimising the risk of adverse side effects prevalent with skin-pricks – viz. nausea, raining, malaise. The device offers a large allergy dataset, a consequence of the microarray concept. The sensors are quantitative, so data on degree of allergic response or severity is collated. The solution to skin-oriented allergy diagnostics is applicable to several alternative market segments, not only accredited clinics and general practice with specialist allergy practitioners, but also in the self-test or home-use setting. ARM-B is a high value, low-cost solution for allergy diagnostics.