MicroWash is a nasopharyngeal irrigation device that collects respiratory specimens with greater accuracy and comfort than traditional nasal swabs, achieving over 10% higher sensitivity and a pain rating of 0.3/10. Its three-year shelf life and ease of self-administration enhance testing rates and improve infectious disease management.
Funding
$1.6M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
BMFounders
Product
Problem
Traditional nasopharyngeal swabs for respiratory specimen collection can be invasive, painful, and prone to collection errors, leading to patient discomfort and potentially inaccurate results. This can result in delayed or avoided testing, hindering effective management of respiratory infections.
Solution
MicroWash is a nasal lavage specimen collection device designed to improve the accuracy and comfort of respiratory sample collection. The device uses a nasal irrigation method to collect samples from deep within the nasal cavity, yielding higher sensitivity compared to traditional swabs. The design facilitates ease of use and self-administration, while also boasting a longer shelf life than standard nasal swab kits. By providing a more comfortable and reliable collection method, MicroWash aims to increase testing rates and improve overall infectious disease management.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes healthcare providers, laboratories, and patients seeking a more accurate, comfortable, and accessible method for respiratory specimen collection.
Features
- Nasal lavage collection method for improved sample acquisition.
- Demonstrated ≥ 10% higher sensitivity than nasal swabs in detecting respiratory pathogens.
- Lower cycle threshold (CT) values compared to nasal swabs, increasing the likelihood of pathogen identification.
- Patient pain rating of 0.3/10 compared to 8/10 for nasal swabs.
- Three-year shelf life for enhanced storage and readiness.
- Designed for easy integration with existing lab processes.
- Suitable for self-administration, increasing accessibility and convenience.