On Mar. 24, 2020, MatMaCorp announced the successful evaluation of a genetic test to detect African swine fever virus in uncooked pork products. Raw pork products are the most common way the virus is spread. The evaluation was done as part of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate program to identify new technologies that secure the U.S. food supply and monitor food imports and exports.

African swine fever is highly contagious in domestic and wild pigs, and currently there is no approved vaccine. The disease has been reported across Asia, Europe, and Africa, and caused a significant decrease in pork production, especially in China, the world’s largest pork-producing country. The United States is the largest pork exporter in the world, raising more than 115 million hogs, valued at $24 billion annually. African swine fever has yet to be detected in the United States, but The Swine Disease Global Surveillance Project estimates that it could cause up to $10 billion in economic damages within a year, if the disease reached the U.S.

MatMaCorp’s device and test can detect the virus that causes African swine fever in raw pork products. DHS S&T scientists evaluated virus-infected samples from meat muscle as well as from bone marrow and spleen. With MatMaCorp’s test, the virus was detected in all the sample types that were tested. The ability to detect the virus in such samples can help processing plants to monitor for viral contamination before exporting products. Similarly, the test could be used to check imported pork products for the virus before they reach the market.

MatMaCorp’s customizable platform is designed to quickly analyze genetic information, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from any biological sample, at any location. The platform includes a simple DNA/RNA isolation kit and a custom assay that is run on a small, portable device. MatMaCorp’s platform and test for ASFV is cost-effective and easy to use, because it does not require extensive laboratory equipment and skills and can deliver results on-site within hours.

MatMaCorp (Materials and Machines Corporation) is a developer of comprehensive solutions for science, medicine, and agriculture. By combining engineering, life science, and information technology, MatMaCorp has developed a portable, easy-to-use, and affordable suite of products to power genetics for human diagnostics, animal conservation, and agriculture applications, including food safety, and breeding.