The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued two US patents held by Diomics, Inc. covering novel biologic sample collection materials, devices made from them, and methods for their use in forensics and diagnostics.

The primary method of collecting forensic stain materials is by swabbing. Recovery of DNA from a number of commercially-available swabs is not an efficient process. The proprietary technology covered in these patents is applicable for developing an effective tool from material that allows for the efficient capture and release of low template DNA and for increasing yield during PCR.

The US patent 8,685,747 for Porous Materials for Biological Sample Collection, issued 4/1/2014, covers hybrid synthetic materials that capture biologic samples efficiently, and more importantly, readily release analytes, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates from collectors that dissolve or disintegrate in extraction media, giving high yields of desired biomolecules with little or no degradation. This allows ready identification of sample donors for forensic purposes with only trace levels of acquired sample. The patent is assigned to the Board of Regents of the University of Arizona, the site of initial studies, licensed exclusively to Diomics, and provided a starting point for R&D that lead to the discovery of proprietary materials that have proven superior in handling of biologic samples.  

The US Patent 8,759,075 for Biologic Sample Collection Devices and Methods of Production and Use Thereof, issued 6/24/2014, covers polymeric collection materials, their manufacture and treatment to give desired properties, and their use in collection devices, stemming from R&D work carried out at Diomics. Diomat, the primary claimed material, has demonstrated superiority to cotton swabs in yielding quality DNA from trace blood samples (0.1 microliter) sufficient to allow STR (short tandem repeat) typing used by law enforcement agencies for donor identification. DNA obtained revealed that samples suffered little or no degradation and were suitable for more extensive sequence analyses. Diomat may be configured into sample collection devices for use in forensics and diagnostics applications. X-Swab, made from Diomat was shown to outperform other products used to collect trace blood and saliva samples in trial studies by a leading forensics laboratory. Extracts from X-Swab were also found to enhance DNA amplification (PCR), paving the way for broad use of Diomat-based devices in forensic and diagnostic processes.

"These two patents will provide our products with long-term market exclusivity," said John F. Steel, CEO of Diomics. "Combined with a recent publication in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics highlighting Diomics novel technology, these patents strengthen our position in forensics and in applications for saliva-based diagnostic in diabetes and oncology."

Diomics is focused on life sciences, specifically diagnostics, forensics, integrated DNA analysis and genetic solutions. Its proprietary Diomat technology platform has the ability to efficiently pick up biologic materials from a variety of surfaces and release the majority of the DNA from the sample into the solution.