Point-of-Care Immunodiagnostics

EliChip: ELISA-grade quantitative results, outside the lab

EliChip is a portable immunoassay platform, developed by Trustech Diagnostics, that converts your existing ELISA-type assay into a disposable microfluidic cartridge and benchtop reader. From a 20 µL sample, it delivers a quantitative digital result in under an hour, without a centralized laboratory or specialized personnel.

“ELISA-grade” means detection limits at the pg/mL level, matched or exceeded against a reference lab ELISA in independent testing (see published evidence).

TRL-7Technology readiness level · see evidence
20 µLSample volume
pg/mLSensitivity, ELISA-grade
<1hTime to result

For research and development use. Regulatory certification status varies by assay and market.

TRL-7 · Field-ready Automated, portable reader 20 µL sample Ready-to-use
cartridge
The EliChip benchtop reader and disposable microfluidic cartridge
Developed by Trustech Diagnostics · Commercial partnership with Auralis Biotech for market access and the Early Adopter Program
Why EliChip

Lab-grade accuracy, without the lab

EliChip is a quantitative point-of-care immunoassay platform: the category of tests that bring laboratory-grade, numeric results to the field, the production line, or the point of care, instead of a qualitative yes/no read.

Quantitative, not qualitative

  • Reports a number, not just a line, unlike lateral flow tests
  • Real-time calibration curve on every run, for traceable, ELISA-grade quantification

Minutes, not days

  • Results in under an hour, at or near the point of need
  • Standard lab ELISA typically takes up to 24 hours

One platform, many chemistries

  • Same cartridge and reader run immunoassay and Griess reaction chemistries
  • Evaluated across matrices: blood, milk, serum, grain, synovial fluid

Multichemistry

  • "Chemistry" is the signal reaction, not just the target molecule
  • Immunoassay chemistry covers most existing ELISA kits
  • Griess reaction chemistry is independent of antibody binding, already on-chip
  • Not limited to classic antibody-based tests

Ready to collaborate or invest?

Talk to us about the Early Adopter Program, a strategic partnership, or investing in EliChip.

Get in touch
Same science, smarter format

Where EliChip sits against existing methods

Standard ELISA delivers quantitative pg/mL-level results but needs a centralized lab, 100 to 200 µL of sample, and up to 24 hours. Lateral flow is fast but only qualitative. PCR and LAMP cannot detect proteins or toxins. EliChip is built to close that gap.

Benchmark
FeatureLateral flowELISAPCR (molecular)EliChip
Sensitivity (quantitative)
Simplicity (ease of use)
Matrix tolerance (robustness)*
Portability (field use)
Cost-effective hardware

* PCR/LAMP amplification itself can run in a portable instrument. Matrix tolerance is the limiting factor: for most sample matrices, nucleic acid extraction and purification at the point of care still comes with a significant loss of sensitivity versus lab-based extraction. "Cost-effective hardware" reflects relative instrument capex, not a specific price commitment.

Traditional ELISA

  • 100–200 µL per well
  • Multi-well plate, partial use is waste
  • Cold-chain transport required
  • Up to 24h turnaround
  • Central lab only
VS

EliChip

  • 20 µL sample, 10× less
  • Single-use card, less waste per test
  • On-site testing, no cold chain
  • Result in under 1 hour
  • Field, clinic, or lab, anywhere

Analyte types and sample compatibility for EliChip reflect matrices and targets evaluated to date; feasibility for a new analyte or matrix is confirmed during the EAP assessment step. Multi-target multiplexing within a single card is on the roadmap, not a current capability.

How it works

From sample to quantitative result

EliChip uses microfluidic reagent handling and real-time, absorbance-based optical calibration to turn a raw sample directly into a quantitative result, without a separate lab step.

EliChip workflow: a 20 microliter sample loaded into a diagnostic cartridge, read by the EliChip reader, producing a quantitative result (23.5 ppb) that is collected as data, elaborated, and turned into information in a single database
The end user collects quantitative data in different locations and analyzes it in a single database.
  1. Load the sample

    A 20 µL sample is loaded into the disposable microfluidic cartridge, pre-loaded with the assay-specific reagents.

  2. The reader runs the assay

    The benchtop reader handles reagents and generates a real-time calibration curve for that specific run, without a centralized lab.

  3. Digital, quantitative result

    A numeric, ELISA-grade result is produced in under an hour and can be logged to a single database across locations.

Applications

Any ELISA. Proven across four sectors.

EliChip has been used in feasibility and research work across agrifood, plant health, veterinary, and clinical and translational research.

In principle, any existing antibody-based ELISA assay can be converted to the EliChip cartridge format. The markers below are proof points already tested through feasibility work, not a limit on what's possible; feasibility for your own assay is confirmed during the Early Adopter Program.

EliChip is TRL-7 and has been tested in feasibility and research collaborations across these sectors. It is not currently a certified in vitro diagnostic (IVD) device; regulatory pathway and certification are assessed per assay and per market during the Early Adopter Program.

Evidence

Case studies

Two independent research collaborations show how EliChip performs against a laboratory ELISA reference, in agrifood and biomedical matrices.

Trusted in research

Used and cited by clinicians and researchers

EliChip has been evaluated hands-on by clinical and academic groups outside Trustech, and cited in peer-reviewed literature.

Outlook

From single test to data engine

EliChip is TRL-7 today as a single-analyte, quantitative point-of-care platform. Its multi-chemistry, multi-matrix cartridge architecture is being developed toward multiplexed and predictive use, alongside inflammation, oncology, and other application areas beyond the current portfolio.

  1. Today: single analyte

    A single quantitative, ELISA-grade result per cartridge run, TRL-7, in use across agrifood and biomedical research collaborations.

  2. Next: multiplexed, same card

    Multiple markers read from a single cartridge and sample, on the same microfluidic and reader architecture. Feasible on the current platform, in development and not yet a validated capability.

  3. Future: predictive panel

    Multi-marker panels combined into a single digital, comparable readout across runs and sites, aimed at earlier and more predictive decisions rather than a single result in isolation.

Auralis Biotech logo
Partner with Trustech & Auralis Biotech

Built by Trustech, brought to market with Auralis Biotech

Auralis Biotech is EliChip's strategic commercial partner, leading partner identification and market access across three tracks.

Underserved gap between lateral flow and lab ELISA TRL-7, backed by peer-reviewed evidence IP protected: 3 patents, 2 granted in Italy, 1 pending in the EU Multi-sector traction: agrifood, plant health, veterinary, biomedical research
Early Adopter Program

Convert your ELISA assay

For assay owners: turn an existing ELISA-type test into a field-deployable EliChip cartridge, commercialized under your own brand, with scoped market exclusivity.

See how it works ↓
Strategic Partnership

Co-develop or distribute

For IVD manufacturers, distributors, and other companies already active in immunodiagnostics, agritech, or animal health, looking to integrate or distribute EliChip.

Talk about partnership →
Investors

Invest in the platform

A TRL-7, IP-protected point-of-care platform with peer-reviewed evidence and traction across four sectors. See what we are building and where the round stands.

Talk to us about investing →
How the Early Adopter Program converts your assay
Your Commercial ELISA kit

Your existing validated assay, as the starting point

Optimization & migration
EliChip cartridge

Limited, targeted adaptation to the cartridge format

Validation
Field deployment

Operational at or near the point of need

Grants & institutional partners

Built through EU and national-funded research

EliChip's development draws on Trustech Diagnostics' participation in EU and Italian-funded research programs, several of which apply the platform directly to biomarker detection.

flamingo logo
FLAMIN-GO · Horizon 2020
Role of EliChip
  • Organ-on-chip platform for personalized care in rheumatoid arthritis
  • EliChip connected to the organ-on-chip to detect and quantify cytokines, LDH, and ROS as inflammation markers
premurosa logo
PREMUROSA · MSCA ITN
Role of EliChip
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral network for precision medicine in musculoskeletal regeneration
  • Trustech contributes its microfluidic platform and surface-modification capabilities
premurosa.eu →
yoga logo
YOGA
Role of EliChip
  • Your Osteoarthritis Goes Away: developing tools for accessible, personalized osteoarthritis care
  • Builds on the same inflammation markers EliChip quantifies
FDM logo
FDM · Digital Agrifood
Role of EliChip
  • Digital agrifood platform project
  • Trustech developed EliChip for quantitative point-of-care analysis of aflatoxin and gliadin across different food matrices

Institutions listed are research and clinical collaborators engaged through Trustech's funded projects and independent evaluations of EliChip.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is a point-of-care immunoassay platform?
A point-of-care immunoassay platform is a system that performs an antibody-based test, the same principle behind lab ELISA, outside a centralized laboratory, close to where the sample is taken. EliChip is Trustech Diagnostics' platform in this category.
What is EliChip?
EliChip is a portable, disposable-cartridge immunoassay platform developed by Trustech Diagnostics. It converts an existing ELISA-type assay into a field-deployable format, delivering a quantitative digital result from a 20 µL sample in under an hour.
How is EliChip different from a lateral flow test?
Lateral flow tests are fast but generally qualitative, a line appears or it does not. EliChip produces a quantitative, numeric result with ELISA-grade sensitivity, using a real-time calibration curve generated on every run.
Is EliChip validated for clinical diagnostic use?
EliChip is TRL-7 and has been tested in feasibility studies and independent research collaborations, including peer-reviewed publications. It is not currently a certified in vitro diagnostic (IVD) device. Regulatory pathway and certification requirements are assessed per assay and per target market during the Early Adopter Program.
What is the EliChip Early Adopter Program?
The EAP, run in commercial partnership with Auralis Biotech, runs as capacity-controlled cohorts, to keep hands-on support high for every partner. It converts a partner's existing ELISA assay into the EliChip format, brought to market under the partner's own brand, with 12-plus months of assay-specific market exclusivity scoped by geography and application.
Can any validated ELISA kit be converted to EliChip?
The EliChip card's microfluidic architecture is designed for competitive and sandwich assay formats, which covers the large majority of validated ELISA kits on the market. Conversion is not plug-and-play: it requires a structured reformatting and adaptation process, which is the focus of the Early Adopter Program. Contact us to discuss feasibility for your specific assay.
Can EliChip run the immunoassay and the Griess reaction on the same card at the same time?
Not simultaneously. Each card is filled with reagents for one chemistry, so a given card is currently dedicated to either the immunoassay or the Griess reaction, not both at once. For the Griess reaction, the closed microfluidic circuit preserves sample integrity by preventing dispersion of NO gas. Multiplexing multiple targets within the immunoassay chemistry on a single card, from a single sample, is on the roadmap.
Is the EliChip cartridge reusable?
No, the reagent card is single-use and disposable, by design, to ensure result integrity and prevent cross-contamination between samples. The reader is permanent and is reused across all card types and assays.
What is the detection method, and are other chemistries possible?
Detection is absorbance-based. The reader integrates a spectrometer at each detection point capable of reading multiple wavelengths, so the platform is not limited to a single colorimetric readout. This is what underpins EliChip's multi-chemistry design, and in principle leaves room for other chemistries that produce a measurable color change. Further technical detail on the optical system is shared with partners under appropriate terms.
Does the reader use a fixed cut-off?
No. The reader reports a quantitative result from a calibration curve, in absolute units such as pg/mL, rather than a fixed positive/negative cut-off. This differs from lateral flow tools, which typically give a binary yes/no read. User-defined thresholds can be applied to the quantitative output depending on the application and regulatory requirements.
What sample types and matrices does EliChip support, including human serum?
EliChip has been evaluated across matrices including blood, serum, milk, grain, synovial fluid, and plant extracts, and chemistries including immunoassay and the Griess reaction. Human serum is generally feasible, though some assay-specific optimization may be required; whole blood can present additional challenges. Matrix- and marker-specific feasibility is confirmed during the EAP assessment step.
Is EliChip patented?
EliChip is covered by 3 patents: 2 granted in Italy and 1 pending in the EU. Further IP detail is shared privately with interested partners under appropriate confidentiality terms.
What does EliChip cost per sample?
Pricing is not disclosed publicly. It depends on application area, assay type, volume, and partnership format, and is discussed directly within the context of the Early Adopter Program or a commercial collaboration.
Has EliChip been tested in biomedical applications beyond agrifood?
Yes. In a joint-on-chip osteoarthritis model developed with academic collaborators, EliChip quantified NGF and IL-6 directly from 20 µL of culture secretome, with NGF detected at 2.5× higher sensitivity than the reference lab ELISA (Kahraman et al., Materials Today Bio, 2025). See the case study above.
Can EliChip test for multiple markers on a single cartridge?
Not yet as a released capability. The current cartridge and reader deliver one quantitative analyte per run. Multiplexing, reading several markers from the same cartridge and sample, is feasible on the platform architecture and is in development, not a current, validated capability.
Get in touch

You have the assay. We have the platform.

Contact us to discuss feasibility for your assay, no commitment required.

Investors & strategic partners

EliChip is TRL-7, backed by peer-reviewed evidence, 3 patents (2 granted in Italy, 1 pending in the EU), and a growing Early Adopter Program. If you are evaluating an investment or a strategic partnership in point-of-care immunodiagnostics, we would like to talk.

Talk to us about investing