FLASH Diagnostics’ Flagship Platform Undergoes Evaluation for Chikungunya Research at Shenzhen CDC
In the past couple of weeks, the flagship platform of FLASH Diagnostics, the FLASH ID, underwent a milestone evaluation at the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shenzhen CDC) as part of research into chikungunya preparedness.
This evaluation is part of a cross-border collaboration, established in September 2024, among Shenzhen CDC, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Uni-medica Technology Co., Ltd., and FLASH Diagnostics Limited. The joint project, “Research and Application of Key Technologies for Detection and Traceability of Zoonotic Diseases in the Shenzhen–Hong Kong Ecosystem,” was approved by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.
Zoonotic diseases account for more than 75% of emerging infectious diseases worldwide, spreading rapidly and posing significant risks to public health. The project aims to:
- Develop technologies from rapid on-site nucleic acid screening to high-throughput laboratory diagnostics.
- Establish a comprehensive monitoring and traceability platform across Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
- Carry out validation and epidemiological studies on patients, companion animals, livestock, wildlife, and foodborne samples.
These efforts will contribute to building a regional database and demonstration applications.
The Shenzhen CDC evaluation specifically examined the feasibility of the FLASH ID platform in detecting mosquito-borne viruses such as Chikungunya, Zika, and Dengue. It assessed not only the system’s performance but also its relevance for outbreak preparedness. Together with our partners, this progress marks an important step toward strengthening preparedness against vector-borne diseases in the region.
