ICHORtec GmbH today has filed patent applications in the United States, Germany, and the European Union for in situ detection of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Able to detect both active infections and antibodies, the ICHOR system has the potential to become competitive to present diagnostic methods and increase worldwide testing capabilities to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.
The ICHOR system works by collecting a sample from a nasal swab (RNA) or finger prick (antibodies). Both tests can be administered from the same device by a lay person in non-laboratory settings, which makes it a unique solution for the deployment of widespread COVID-19 testing in locations like airports, cruise terminals, offices and retail settings.
Developed in cooperation with Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME and validated at the Uniklinikum Aachen, Germany, ICHORtec has leveraged a newly established diagnostic workflow for the detection of COVID-19. The ICHOR system harnesses these molecular diagnostic and antibody testing capabilities to deliver results in under three minutes with no less than 95 percent accuracy, and at a fraction of the cost of present diagnostic testing capabilities which can also take up to several days to provide a result.
“We believe the ICHOR system’s robust technology offers the fastest and most accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA to effectively diagnose COVID-19 on a massive scale,” says ICHORtec CEO Uwe Korth. “The ICHOR system demonstrates immense potential to deliver reliable and cost-effective diagnostic testing capabilities in easily accessible locations around the world. With this type of COVID-19 testing widely available, the ICHOR system can help facilitate public health interventions across the globe.”
ICHORtec has commenced licensing discussions for the production of the ICHOR system in the United States. The innovative biotechnology company is an affiliate of IEM GmbH , an established leader in the development of technologies that allow for individual population health screenings, provide reliable patient diagnoses and offer secure eHealth systems.
“In collaboration with some of the world’s most respected research partners, ICHORtec has developed accurate diagnostic technologies that can help clinicians make effective treatment decisions and curb the spread of infection,” says Hans-Michael Kraus, partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta, Ga. who serves as legal counsel for ICHORtec. “Our hope is that we can quickly move forward to bring ICHOR to the front lines in the battle against COVID-19.”
Korth says, “The meaning of ‘ICHOR’ is the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods and immortal. COVID-19 is just as elusive, and our mission is to meet the needs of our global community with onsite solutions for diagnostic of infection diseases.”
ICHORtec GmbH, based in Aachen, Germany, is a newly established biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative chemical and molecular diagnostic solutions. ICHORtec is a technology spin-off of medtech company IEM GmbH in Stolberg. The company was founded by Uwe Korth and Oleh Fedorych with a focus on market segments where gaps in FDA approved treatments exist.
The ICHOR system has not been FDA cleared or approved. For more information about ICHORtec and ICHOR, contact Mr. Uwe Korth at