Hero Scientific develops the HERO CONCENTRATOR™, a non‑electronic filtration cup that uses high pressure to concentrate bacteria and biomarkers from liquids such as gargle, water, blood, urine, or stool. The concentrated sample can be read instantly on optimized immunoassay test strips, enabling rapid, high‑sensitivity point‑of‑care and at‑home diagnostics like the swab‑free EZ STREP™ test. The technology targets diagnostic manufacturers and consumer health companies seeking less invasive, cost‑effective sample preparation.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Accurate concentration of pathogens and biomarkers from liquid samples typically requires bulky, powered centrifuges or invasive collection methods such as swabs, limiting rapid point‑of‑care testing and patient comfort.
Solution
Hero Scientific’s HERO CONCENTRATOR™ is a non‑electronic filtration cup that uses high pressure to concentrate bacteria and other analytes directly from liquids such as gargle, water, blood, urine, or stool. By eliminating the need for a centrifuge, the device enables rapid, high‑sensitivity immunoassay results that can be read instantly on optimized test strips. The technology is being applied to home‑use diagnostics, exemplified by EZ STREP™, a swab‑free strep test that uses a simple gargle collection. Ongoing R&D explores additional applications, including urine‑based STD screening and blood‑based assays, aiming to improve sample quality while reducing invasiveness and cost.
Target Audience
Primary customers include point‑of‑care diagnostic manufacturers, clinical laboratories developing rapid immunoassays, and consumer health companies seeking non‑invasive home testing solutions.
Features
- Mechanical, non‑electronic filtration cup that generates sufficient pressure to concentrate microorganisms without external power
- Compatible with a range of liquid sample types (gargle, water, blood, urine, stool) through modular design
- Enables direct coupling with highly optimized immunoassay test strips for immediate readout
- Swab‑free sample collection for home diagnostics (e.g., EZ STREP™ gargle test)
- Designed to improve sample quality and assay sensitivity while simplifying workflow
- Portable, single‑use format suitable for point‑of‑care and at‑home settings