"The PORTFASTFLU’s objective is to develop and validate a rapid diagnostic test for influenza that will be used as point-of-care systems in developed and developing countries. Experts and international bodies agree that the rapid detection of influenza is vital in combating this major threat to human health. Nucleic acid analysis is the most appropriate assay scheme for both early detection and late surveillance of influenza, and is routinely used by WHO and OIE virology reference laboratories. PORTFASTFLU's consortium aims at developing and validating a Point of Care (POC) instrument which will integrate sample preparation, nucleic acid amplification, microarray hybridization and fluorescent readout in a single system. Reaching this challenging objective is possible through the combined expertise of the partners and comprises access to several selected enabling technologies: microfluidics, on-chip sample preparation, advanced microarray techniques and reading systems with ultimate sensitivity and selectivity, access to reference and field virus samples. This Bio-Micro knowledge converges in one single instrument, allowing rapid detection (less than an hour) and simultaneous identification of influenza A and B viruses (typing and sub-typing) at widespread POC with only basic skills. Furthermore, the project also aims at realizing this goal in a format that requires little supervision and is integrated in a portable compact monolithic system for deployment in the field. The consortium of 9 partners from 5 member states brings together the various expertises needed to reach these objectives, which match exactly those of the call Health 2.3.3-4: Innovative point-of-care diagnostic tests for influenza"