Decentralizing genetic testing for biodiversity monitoring and biosurveillance with the Nucleic Acid Barcode Identification Tool (NABIT) and Molecular Development Kit (MDK)

Abstract

AbstractThe escalating threats to biodiversity, public health, and food security posed by emerging infectious diseases and illegal wildlife trafficking requires novel approaches to biosurveillance. This paper introduces two innovations developed to address these multifaceted challenges: the Nucleic Acid Barcode Identification Tool (NABIT) and the Molecular Development Kit (MDK).The NABIT is a handheld, battery-powered device that enables genetic tests to be performed at the point of contact by non-technical users, creating a critical bridge between centralized laboratories and the field by reducing barriers to accessible and routine genetic testing. Verification testing and validation results for the NABIT and the lyophilized assays used with it demonstrate key performance parameters, including sample preparation, detection sensitivity, and stability of field-ready assays after 17 months without refrigeration.The MDK complements the NABIT by providing a framework for third-party development and deployment of field-ready genetic assays. Similar to software development kits (SDKs), the MDK offers documentation, software tools, and NABIT hardware to accelerate the development of new assays, enabling early detection strategies and minimizing future losses. Crucially, the MDK empowers scientists worldwide to contribute to a new ecosystem for wildlife genetics and biosurveillance by developing their own field-ready tests for the NABIT.In summary, the NABIT and MDK present the potential for a paradigm shift in biosurveillance, ecosystem monitoring, and biodiversity conservation, enabling decentralized genetic testing, early disease detection, and rapid response to protect sensitive ecosystems, public health, and food security.