Lyme disease is debilitating illness that can affect both family and pets. This disease is easily treatable if diagnosed early, but left untreated, can cause chronic conditions. The VeriTick Test Kit allows for immediate detection of Lyme-causing bacteria from the source. The test is temperature stable and can be used in most settings where ticks would be present, and within 20 minutes will let you know if you should seek medical attention – days or weeks before symptoms might occur. Learn more about Lyme disease.
NanoComposix’s lateral flow development team has developed the most sensitive and reliable test on the market for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria which causes Lyme disease. For more information on survey kits, individual tests, or licensing/OEM opportunities, please contact us.
Kit Overview
The VeriTick Test Kit enables a qualitative (yes/no) result for the presence of B. burgdorferi in less than 20 minutes versus the 1–2 weeks required for mail-in lab analysis.
The VeriTick Test Kit incorporates a lateral flow assay strip utilizing nanoComposix’s ultra-sensitive gold nanoshells and a proprietary device for mechanical disruption of tick samples and accession of gut-borne Borrelia bacteria (Tick Disruption Device, TDD).
The VeriTick Test Kit has been proven to be more effective than competitor tests and is able to detect lower levels of B. burgdorferi present in nymphs and non-engorged adults.
Development of the VeriTick Test Kit was achieved through funding by and collaboration with Army (via WRAIR). The assay has been comprehensively validated and has shown to detect < 60 B. burgdorferi cells with minimal interference/cross-reactivity from other Borrelia strains, tick-borne pathogens and blood.
This detection kit is not intended for diagnosis of Lyme disease or detection of Borrelia bacteria from human/animal blood samples.
Features
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Tick Disruption Device: allows for adequate crushing of a single tick with minimal handling.
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Dipstick Lateral Flow Assay Format: easy to run, less than 30 seconds hands on time.
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Fast Result: result in 20 minutes from start of assay. Can be used on site of tick exposure.
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Simple Operation: no pipettes or extra laboratory equipment required.
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Simple Storage: no refrigerated space needed. May be kept at room temperature before use.
The full VeriTick Test Kit incorporates the following components:
- 1× Ultra-sensitive lateral flow assay detection strip
- 1× Tick Disruption Device (TDD) for crushing of tick subjects
- 1× Dropper bottle with extraction/running buffer
Performance vs. Competitors
Strips run with Borrelia antigen dilutions and read on a Qiagen benchtop reader.
The nanoComposix lateral flow test strips provide 4× and 10× lower LOD (Limit of Detection) than other vendors.
Current tests are labeled for use with “engorged” ticks where Borrelia counts are at a maximum level; this greatly reduces the utility of these tests. The nanoComposix VeriTick Test Kit can detect low levels of Borrelia cells present in both unfed adults and nymphs.
| Sensitivity |
LOD in Cells |
|
Borrelia burgdorferi (strain 31) |
57 |
LOD = Limit of Detection
| Cross-Reactivity |
Yes/No |
| Borrelia mayonii |
No |
| Borrelia garinii |
No |
| Borrelia afzelii |
No |
| Colorado Tick Fever Virus |
No |
| Powassan Virus |
No |
| Deer Tick Virus |
No |
| Compatibility |
Yes/No |
| Whole Human Blood |
Yes |
| DI Water |
Yes |
| PBS |
Yes |
nanocomposix VeriTick Test Kit lateral flow test strips and dose response curve for detection of B. burgdorferi. Curve generated from a serial dilution of bacterial cells in buffer (0/10/25/50/100/250/500/1,000/10,000 ng/mL, n = 3). Lowest visible test line at 10 ng/mL corresponds to LOD of 57 cells. Test line signal intensities captured by Lumos lateral flow strip reader.
For more information on survey kits, individual tests, or licensing/OEM opportunities, please contact us.
About Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America and one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases due to the spread of Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis) populations. Reported Lyme disease in humans have tripled in the last 20 years. CDC reports 30,000+ human cases cases per year (2018). Lyme disease is caused by prolonged B. burgdorferi infection and can lead to permanent neurological and rheumatic conditions if left untreated. Symptoms often appear much later after exposure to an infected tick. As such, early diagnosis is challenging for physicians. The VeriTick Test Kit provides a first line of defense against Lyme disease by allowing the user to identify whether a tick encounter is a potential risk for Lyme disease.
