INVENTING A NEW DIAGNOSTIC-TEST FOR VAGINAL INFECTION

Bacterial vaginosis, which is underdiagnosed in clinical practice, has a characteristic fishy smell because of production of diamines. This smell is the basis of a visual rapid diagnostic test that is technical ly simple to perform. The test has been patented in Europe and America , and a licence agreement has been negotiated. This paper describes th e process from idea to invention to patenting and licensing. The combi ned costs of research and patenting were met by a multinational compan y in return for rights to exploit the patented invention. The process has taken nine years and has needed clinical, scientific, legal, and c ommercial input to get the test to the marketplace.