Real-Time Bacteria Identification Device Debuts in Viseu

A real-time bacteria identification device, developed by the Portuguese company ALS as part of the SMARTgNOTICS consortium, is set to be unveiled this Friday in Viseu. The technology promises to identify the bacteria causing an infection in humans, animals, or the environment and, crucially, determine the most effective antibiotic to combat it. When tested later this year at the CUF hospital and with the Lusiaves group, the device will mark the first time two national institutions deploy such diagnostic capability. In ALS’s view, antimicrobial resistance is a growing cause of death worldwide, and the ability to diagnose quickly in veterinary contexts is equally urgent. The device’s core advantage is its capacity to identify the responsible bacterium and thereby guide the selection of the appropriate antibiotic without delay.