The Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology has extended financial support to BabyCue Private Limited of Cuttack, Odisha for the development and commercialization of an indigenous rapid diagnostic platform designed to detect childhood diarrhea.
The project, titled A Disposable Paper Analytical Platform for Rapid Differentiation of Childhood Diarrhea, focuses on creating a rapid diagnostic kit that can accurately distinguish between bacterial and non bacterial diarrhea in children. The initiative aims to support timely clinical decision making and improve treatment outcomes while reducing unnecessary antibiotic usage.
The diagnostic solution, named DiaCue Diagnostic Kit, represents a combination of biotechnology and material science innovation developed to address a major public health challenge. Childhood diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of illness among children in many parts of the country, particularly in rural and resource constrained regions where access to laboratory infrastructure may be limited.
The DiaCue platform has been designed as a rapid, non invasive and cost effective point of care diagnostic tool that can be used in primary health centres, community clinics and field settings. The system enables healthcare providers to identify the nature of infection within minutes and determine whether the illness is caused by bacterial pathogens or non bacterial factors.
The diagnostic technology uses Lateral Flow Assay based detection, relying on disease specific fecal biomarkers to identify the type of infection. The system employs gold nanoparticle based colorimetric detection, allowing the results to be read visually without the need for sophisticated laboratory instruments or specialised training.
The testing process is designed to be simple and suitable for frontline healthcare environments. A fresh stool sample is collected using a sample loop or swab and mixed with an extraction buffer. Once the sample settles, the clear supernatant is applied to the lateral flow assay strip. The liquid migrates through the strip and interacts with immobilised reagents embedded in the test structure.
Depending on the interaction between the biomarkers and the reagents, visible coloured lines appear on the strip. The presence or absence of these coloured lines indicates whether the infection is bacterial or non bacterial, allowing healthcare workers to make quick and informed treatment decisions.
The use of proprietary biomarkers and specially designed reagents ensures high sensitivity and specificity of detection. The system has been engineered to provide reliable diagnostic results while maintaining ease of use and affordability.
Among the major advantages of the DiaCue platform are the ability to rapidly differentiate bacterial and non bacterial diarrhea, reduction in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and the potential to curb antimicrobial resistance. The kit is also designed for easy deployment in clinical facilities as well as remote locations where laboratory testing is not easily available.
The technology has been developed through collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Hyderabad and has undergone clinical validation at ESIC Hospital Hyderabad. The diagnostic methodology based on proprietary biomarker detection has also been protected through an international patent filing, ensuring intellectual property protection and enabling large scale commercial deployment.
Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary of the Technology Development Board, highlighted the importance of indigenous innovations in the healthcare sector. He said that rapid diagnostic technologies developed within the country are essential for strengthening primary healthcare delivery and improving clinical decision making.
Rajesh Kumar Pathak noted that the board’s support for the commercialization of the DiaCue diagnostic platform is aimed at promoting affordable and accessible technology driven healthcare solutions capable of addressing critical public health challenges such as childhood diarrhea.
Promoters of BabyCue Private Limited expressed gratitude for the financial and institutional support provided by the Technology Development Board. They stated that the assistance will enable the company to accelerate product development, expand manufacturing capacity and scale up deployment of the diagnostic platform across healthcare facilities.
The company expects that wider availability of the diagnostic kit will help healthcare providers improve treatment decisions, reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and enhance child health outcomes across the country.
