There is a growing demand for point-of-care testing or bedside testing in the last few decades. It provides convenience to the patient and quicker results to the healthcare providers for faster clinical management decisions. The challenge is to keep it affordable and accessible.
Cell ID Pte Ltd, a Singapore SME, whose founders have in-depth expertise in electronics and manufacturing, recognised the challenges and the potential opportunity it could address. Through collaboration with external partners, it leveraged mature printing technologies to develop affordable near-field point-of-care (nf-POC) devices for disease diagnostics. Cell ID had created a novel packaging for its nf-POC diagnostic kits to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and was looking for a clinical partner to validate its newly designed and packaged HIV diagnostic kits.
In 2015, IPI matched Cell ID with the Clinical Immunology Laboratory of the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Clinic in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Following several rounds of discussion, Cell ID and TTSH entered into an agreement to validate Cell ID’s HIV diagnostic kits. Through this collaboration, Cell ID was able to validate its Smart HIV 1/2 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) device and received product registration from the Health Science Authority (HSA) in September 2016.
“Cell ID is very pleased with the match made with TTSH by IPI. We are very grateful to Dr Leong Khai Pang, Senior Consultant at the Clinical Immunology Laboratory and his team for their support during this validation exercise. The introduction made by IPI has enabled Cell ID to accelerate its product development to market. We have received a strong order for our Smart HIV 1/2 RDT for the worldwide market and expect to introduce the product in the first quarter in 2018,” said Xander Sim, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Cell ID Pte Ltd.
“IPI is delighted to support Cell ID, a highly innovative company that embraces external partnership to accelerate their product development. Besides TTSH, IPI has matched Cell ID to other innovation and industry partners who are now working with Cell ID on their new products. We look forward to supporting them in their Open Innovation journey,” said Dr Sze Tiam Lin, Senior Director, IPI.
In recent decades, the demand for point-of-care (POC) or bedside testing has risen significantly, driven by the need for convenience and faster clinical decision-making in healthcare. However, a major challenge persists: ensuring that such diagnostic solutions remain affordable and accessible to a broad population. High costs and complex validation requirements often hinder the widespread adoption of innovative diagnostic technologies, particularly for critical diseases such as HIV. Cell ID Pte Ltd, recognising this gap, sought to address the affordability and accessibility issues inherent in developing and deploying near-field point-of-care (nf-POC) diagnostic devices. While the company had successfully created a novel packaging for its HIV diagnostic kits, it faced the significant hurdle of validating its newly designed products in a clinical setting. Without validation from reputable clinical partners, the path to regulatory approval and market entry would remain uncertain, limiting the potential impact of their innovation.
IPI Singapore matched Cell ID with the Clinical Immunology Laboratory of the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Clinic at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in 2015, facilitating a critical partnership for clinical validation. By leveraging its extensive network, IPI enabled Cell ID to connect with a leading clinical institution, providing the necessary support for rigorous evaluation of its Smart HIV 1/2 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) device. Following several rounds of discussion, Cell ID and TTSH entered into an agreement to validate the HIV diagnostic kits. This collaboration allowed Cell ID to conduct comprehensive clinical validation, ultimately leading to product registration from the Health Science Authority (HSA) in September 2016. IPI’s facilitation not only accelerated the product development timeline but also enhanced Cell ID’s credibility and readiness for market introduction. Beyond this initial partnership, IPI continued to support Cell ID by matching it with additional innovation and industry partners for future product development.
"Cell ID is very pleased with the match made with TTSH by IPI. We are very grateful to Dr Leong Khai Pang, Senior Consultant at the Clinical Immunology Laboratory and his team for their support during this validation exercise. The introduction made by IPI has enabled Cell ID to accelerate its product development to market. We have received a strong order for our Smart HIV 1/2 RDT for the worldwide market and expect to introduce the product in the first quarter in 2018."
"IPI is delighted to support Cell ID, a highly innovative company that embraces external partnership to accelerate their product development. Besides TTSH, IPI has matched Cell ID to other innovation and industry partners who are now working with Cell ID on their new products. We look forward to supporting them in their Open Innovation journey."
Cell ID Pte Ltd is a Singapore SME founded by experts in electronics and manufacturing. The company focuses on developing innovative, affordable near-field point-of-care (nf-POC) devices for disease diagnostics, leveraging mature printing technologies and collaborating with external partners to address healthcare challenges.