PathoScan Allows Anyone, Anywhere, To Test For Any Plant Pathogen.
How It Works
Lab-Grade Diagnostics In Your Hands
Labs often use a variant of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test called Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) to test for plant pathogens. PathoScan has taken this existing technique that producers trust every day and made it into a format that allows anyone to use it. This allows you to test your plants in the field and get the answers you need in hours, not days or weeks.
How Do I Use PathoScan?
To use PathoScan, all you need is a PathoKit (consumable) for the pathogen you want to detect and a PathoBox (reusable). Simply follow the instructions included with your PathoKit, place your samples into the PathoBox, and you can go from plant to positive in under an hour.
FAQ:
Where Can I Use the PathoBox?
The PathoBox is designed to be used wherever you are. It features the ability to plug into an automotive outlet for field use and a wall outlet for use at home or in the office.
How Long Does a Test Take?
It typically takes around 1-2 minutes to process a sample. The sample is then put into the PathoBox for an hour.
How Do I Know the PathoBox is Accurate?
The PathoBox uses the same open-source technology (LAMP) that is currently used in labs. All we have done is package it in a way that makes it useful to producers. Because the product is new, to ensure accuracy, we also offer free DNA sequencing for 4 samples with the purchase of each PathoKit.
Is the PathoBox Difficult to Use?
No. Over the past three years, PathoScan has been working with producers to make the process as user-friendly as possible. To ensure that this remains the case, at the end of the season, we will send out an optional survey to all producers who used the PathoBox, asking for advice on how to make it better. Over the winter, we will then implement these changes so that they can be rolled out the following spring.
Who We Are
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Co-Founder
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Ethan Done graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology (BMI) program in 2025. During his time in program, he worked at Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC), and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) on portable diagnostics. He founded PathoScan based on the belief that anyone, anywhere, should be able to know what pathogens are present in their crop.
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Co-Founder
Having graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Saskatchewan, Tayab Soomro’s journey into the world of agriculture started when he attended the University of Dalhousie’s Masters in Agriculture Program where he studied clubroot and apple flavor profiles.
From there, Tayab wanted to have a positive impact on the world, and soon joined Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC), where he currently helps to translate scientific insights into results for producers. However, he also wanted to personally be a part of making producer’s lives better. So, in 2022 Tayab teamed up with Ethan to create the Plant Positive research project. This project aimed to allow anyone, anywhere, to detect anything. Through the help and support of the Saskatchewan agricultural community, this research project eventually became PathoScan Technologies Inc.
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A core part of PathoScan’s philosophy is that our products should be made for producers in Canada by Canadians. David supports this mission by bringing international electronics manufacturing experience from his education at Covenant University (Nigeria), and various positions at major international electrical companies. This real-world experience ensures that PathoScan’s products can be built completely in Canada.
