Varro Life Sciences develops advanced diagnostic technologies that redefine how airborne pathogens are detected and contained. By combining biotechnology, electrochemistry, and nanobody science, Varro delivers rapid, accurate, and scalable solutions for healthcare, agriculture, government, and built environments.
Nanobody Innovation
Nanobodies are the smallest known antigen-binding molecules. They are highly stable, easy to produce, and uniquely suited for rapid diagnostic assays at the point of care. Varro is building one of the world’s most expansive naïve nanobody libraries, with 10¹² distinct specificities, which represents a 100,000-fold increase over typical libraries. By sourcing nanobodies from camelid species and four geographical regions, this library maximizes biological diversity and enables screening against both known and emerging pathogens. The result is the ability to develop new biosensors against novel threats in as little as two to four weeks.
Electrochemical Biosensors
At the core of Varro’s platform is a nanobody-based electrochemical biosensor. Nanobodies are covalently bound to electrodes, capturing target pathogens which are then quantified through square wave voltammetry. This approach detects live virus particles within seconds and has demonstrated ultra-sensitivity across SARS-CoV-2 variants, with results validated in clinical studies at Washington University in St. Louis.
Real-Time Breath Diagnostics
The Varro breathalyzer integrates a 3D-printed aerosol collector with the biosensor, enabling direct analysis of exhaled breath. In clinical validation, the platform achieved 95.5% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity in detecting SARS-CoV-2 compared to other respiratory viruses
Results are available in under 60 seconds, giving clinicians and screening authorities immediate, actionable data for differential diagnosis at the point of care.
Environmental pathogen monitoring
Varro’s pathogen Air Bio Detector (ABD) continuously samples and analyzes air using a wet cyclone collector integrated with electrochemical and PCR-based detection. The system identifies viral, bacterial, and fungal threats at low concentrations in real-world environments such as residential buildings and healthcare facilities