New prototype device to help doctors prescribe most appropriate medicine for individual patients

A prototype handheld device that analyses DNA to predict how patients may respond to their prescription medication has performed well in a preliminary pilot study

Professor Toumazou says the SNP DR could help doctors to assess patients at the start of treatments, which could reduce adverse reactions to prescription drugs.

Scientists at the Imperial College London spinout company DNA Electronics (DNAE) have successfully tested a prototype device that they have developed to determine if patients are genetically predisposed to suffering adverse reactions to prescription drugs. The team believe the success of the pilot study takes the device, the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) DR (pronounced ''Snip'' doctor), one step closer to being used in the healthcare industry.

The SNP DR is a portable technology that gives real-time accurate on-the-spot test results for specific DNA sequences that may be used by doctors to indicate how people are likely to respond to certain drugs.

The SNP DR works by analysing genetic differences found in DNA called Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). These differences can indicate how people may respond to disease, bacteria, viruses, toxins and medication.

The SNP DR works by analysing the DNA in saliva samples, which are placed in a disposable cartridge and exposed to silicon chip sensors inside the device. Copies of SNPs are contained in the chip. If the device detects a match, a message is displayed on the SNP DR's handheld console. The SNP DR will allow physicians to assess their patient in the GP clinic and tailor dosages and treatments accordingly, rather than sending samples to a laboratory for analysis, which is a costly and lengthy process that can delay therapies. At present, the real-time SNP Dr takes approximately 30 minutes to analyse a sample.