Reference number: STC-PS-0793
Inventor(s): P. Atanassov; D. Ivnitski; G. Lopez; B. Ramirez; R. Sitdikov
For more information, contact: Erin M. Beaumont (505-272-7912)
or Jovan Heusser, M.B.A. (505-272-7908)
Patent(s)
Application(s) pending
Background
Conventional assay systems that can detect viruses have been known for some time and many are fundamentally problematic. Standard methods of diagnosing influenza, for example, include isolation of the virus by culture from respiratory secretions, which may take several days, or the immunoassay approach which requires about 4 hours to perform and requires a fluorescence microscope and a senior technician experienced in the reading of immunofluorescence slides. In addition to extended time and resource requirements these conventional assay methods often show variable sensitivity and specificity and require complicated and expensive instruments. Furthermore, these assays are difficult to conduct in non-laboratory conditions such as in a doctor’s office, in field setting, or at a remote location.
Existing diagnostic ELISA tests are also not sensitive enough and have several shortcomings that must be overcome: 1) they are slow to recognize the presence of a target virus; 2) they lack adequate sensitivity; 3) the bioanalytical systems are often transportable rather than portable and require highly trained personnel to properly operate them. Other limitations are the complexity of the instrumentation, multi-steps and the time consuming procedures that are required. In addition, running these instruments is both expensive and labor-intensive.
To overcome these shortcomings, new diagnostic systems must be developed that are more appropriate in healthcare. Smaller, faster, and cheaper (one-step) biosensor devices with high sensitivity and reproducibility are highly desired for replacing time-consuming laboratory-analyses. For instance, rapid detection and identification of both types of influenza infections (A and B viruses) in clinical samples, water, food or air is of great significance in the medical, food and water safety-testing, and environmental monitoring fields.
Technology
The present invention is a simple, fast, selective and highly sensitive electrochemical assay and disposable device for detection of viruses, bacteria, proteins, DNA, and/or organic/inorganic compounds.
Applications/Advantages
•Improved sensitivity
•Improved reproducibility
•Accelerated speed
•Smaller size
•Inexpensive to manufacture
•Decreased labor and skilled human resource requirements
•Ability to efficiently convert bioanalytical signal into electrical
