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| Environmental Technology Listing |
Title of Listing: | | SMART Test |
Category: | | Characterization Technologies |
Subcategory: | * | Air, All Listings |
Media: | | Air Vapors, |
Contaminants: | | Chemical Biological Warfare Agents |
Web Site: | | |
Email: | | |
Technology Description: | |
New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation (NHD) has developed two technologies that facilitate the rapid immunological detection of chemical and biological analytes. The essence of one of these chemistries (the SMART chemistry) involving the immuno-focusing of a gold (colloidal gold) labeled antibody and its capture on an antibody coated membrane when it is reacted with its complementary antigen. In positive tests, a red dot appears in a small circular area on the membrane surface. Colloidal gold was chosen as the chromophore to label the antibody because of its high extinction coefficient. The "small" circular membrane channels all of the reactants through a tiny opening which optimizes the sensitivity of the test. The test is done pseudo-homogeneously (i.e. it needs no washing and separation of reactants). Results are read anywhere from between two to ten minutes. Sensitivity of the test is between five to ten nanograms and the procedure is easy to do requiring only one step. The SMART System was used extensively by the Army during Desert Storm and Desert Shield for the rapid detection of biological warfare agents (Anthrax, Botulism Toxin and Plague). A rapid test for strep using the SMART chemistry system was developed for NASA and is currently being used on the space shuttle. A rapid SMART test for cholera was developed in 1991 and is now being used by several countries in Central and South America to aid in the detection and containment of this disease.
The second system (the Luminometer), employing bioluminescence, is designed to detect the presence of viable bacteria in either air or liquid samples by means of detecting the Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) content of bacteria. The system consists of a stabilized mixture of luciferin/luciferase immobilized onto a small reaction membrane and a compact and portable instrument to detect the relative light units (RLUs) produced upon the addition of a sample containing viable bacteria. The total bacteria count can be obtained from the RLUs. This system requires only two steps with results available in less than two minutes. The system, designed specifically for the military, is powered by a 12 volt AC to DC adapter or by battery pack. This luminescence system can be further modified to employ specific analyte chemiluminescent technologies.
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Performance Status/
Limitations: | |
New Horizons Diagnostics' luminometry technology is based on the detection of the ATP content of viable organisms. Samples which do not contain living organisms would be unsuitable for this system. It is also known that the chloride ion can cause interference with the luciferin/luciferase system. This problem can be eliminated by selecting a chloride-free buffer extraction system.
The NHD luminometer is powered by both an AC source and a battery pack. The battery pack has a lifetime of about 300 determinations before recharging.
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Topics
Biochemistry, Technologies, Characterization
Additional Topics/Tags/Keywords
Immunological Detector, Biological Warfare Agents, Bioluminescence |
Organization: | | New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation |
Address: | | 9110 Red Branch Road
| Phone: | Description | Number |
City: | | Columbia | | Primary | (410) 992-9357 |
State/Province/Territory: | | MD | 2. | | |
Zip/Postal Code: | | 21045 | 3. | | |
Country: | | United States | 4. | Fax: | (410) 992-0328 |
Branch Locations: | |
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