companion apps

Introduction

Health and disease are what happens between tests – making more tests is a burden but not if this is using a pinprick (or even saliva). The Attomarker small testing volume can make comparatively simple repeat tests to get accurate data and the patient can see ongoing changes. We are developing a series of companion apps to log our test results and collect other health parameters such as steps to lead to a more complete integrated picture. The pandemic led to the Biomark App to show and explain your immunity profile but we are also developing a Liver health app and an Allergy app.

Biomark Apps

The Biomark App was created to allow results from the COVID19 Antibody Immunity test to be carried on the iPhone and integrated into other Apps. Similar Apps can be created for other disease states. A QR code was read by the app and results appeared, as in the image below. In this case, the App provided some take-away information for the Antibody Immunity profile measured against the Attomarker mucosal immunity threshold.

During the pandemic, Attomarker developed a COVID19 Antibody Immunity test which was CE marked and is fully quantitative referenced to the NIST standard human antibody. The test measured the antibody immunity profile for antibodies binding to spike, omicron-spike, nucleocapsid and receptor binding domain proteins. 1,2  Antibody Immunity profile (Figure 5) provided the following information:

  • Nucleocapsid (N) indicating past viremia;
  • Spike Protein (S) indicating past infection or vaccination;
  • Spike Protein from the Omicron Variant (SO) indicating vaccine binding to the Omicron variant or infection from Omicron;
  • Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)

 The test also measured the familiar C Reactive Protein. The test was performed from venous blood with the results available in 7 minutes, presented as the Biomark (Figure 5) available on the iPhone app. 

The concentration of S antibodies was used to assess the number of ‘Immunity Days’ to the ‘Edge of Immunity’ calculated from an antibody half-life of 60 days and a mucosal protection threshold of 3.4 mg/L, rounded to the nearest month.

The Edge of Immunity depended on estimated antibody half-life and ranged from 60 – 200 days3. The test could measure half-life more precisely with   two samples taken 100 days apart with clinicians’ advice  

The test was sold as part of a consultation in private healthcare to patients who believe they are immuno-compromised, preparing to travel, have vulnerable relatives or considering whether to have a booster jab or not.

biomark-app

Figure 5

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The Allergy App

The barcode on food contains information about the composition and increasing details about the allergen content. The planned Attomarker test would provide unique insight into how allergies may add up from different combinations of foods in a meal. The Allergy App would allow you to scan the barcode of items in the supermarket and check their allergy risk against your profile, adding up the risks if any. The app will be interactive and irritable bowel or discomfort can be reported to the benefit of all Allergy App users. 

barcode-scanning-food
liver-game

The Liver Game

The frequent testing of liver function is converted into a Liver Game in our companion – and is part of a wider interest in the gamification of health. The Liver Game stores your results and lets you set up a profile, estimates calorie consumption and units of alcohol to produce a dashboard showing how interventions in lifestyle help your liver. There is an interactive barcode scanner that lets you look at the nutritional information for items as you buy them.

Patients in clinical trials that improve their lifestyle and improve their liver function test can lead to the remission of type 2 diabetes. Fatty Liver Disease is present in about 70% of type 2 diabetics and tracking liver performance may even offer a route to complete remission from diabetes – a cure. But as soon as the patients leave the trial the relapse and the benefits are lost. The future requires us to keep the interest of patients, especially children, to make a difference to the obesity pandemic.

References – to the COVID19 Antibody Immunity Test

  1. James-Pemberton PH, Helliwell MW, Olkhov RV, et al. Fully Quantitative Measurements of the Antibody Levels for SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Vaccinations calibrated against the NISTmAb Standard IgG Antibody. medRxiv 2022: 2022.07.12.22277533.
  2. James-Pemberton PH, Helliwell MW, Olkhov RV, et al. Vaccine, Booster and Natural Antibody Binding to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1) Spike Protein and Vaccine Efficacy. medRxiv 2022: 2022.07.12.22277539.
  3. Dan JM, Mateus J, Kato Y, et al. Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for up to 8 months after infection. Science 2021; 371(6529): eabf4063.