12-month real-world validation of biodegradable diagnostic cassettes
Okos Diagnostics has obtained new 12-month results from its real-world soil burial study in Nigeria, showing substantial degradation of its biodegradable lateral flow test cassettes under local environmental conditions.
In short, Okos Diagnostics produces biodegradable cassettes for lateral flow assays, reducing plastic waste from this widely used single-use diagnostic technology, with approximately 10 billion LFAs used globally each year. Okos supplies its cassettes to IVD companies, research institutions and hospitals worldwide
The study builds on previously published research in Frontiers, investigating the biodegradability of Okos' plant-based materials developed to replace conventional fossil-based plastic diagnostic housings.
To validate these findings under real-world conditions, Okos cassettes were buried in soil in Nigeria and monitored over time. After 12 months, the retrieved cassettes showed substantial physical degradation and fragmentation compared with their original condition.
These results provide further real-world evidence of the potential for biodegradable materials to reduce persistent plastic waste from single-use diagnostics. With billions of lateral flow tests used globally each year, transitioning away from conventional fossil-based plastic housings could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of diagnostic testing.
This news is from Okos Diagnostics, a member of NCSH.
Learn more about Okos Diagnostics: www.okosdiagnostics.com
