RAPID SENSITIVE DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF TOXINS FROM COMPLEX BIOLOGICAL MATRICES.

In scenarios of mass biotoxin release, either intentional or accidental, rapid diagnosis is vitally important to delivering effective treatment to affected individuals. Here, we present our latest results utilizing a microfluidic disc-based immunoassay to detect several high priority potential bioterrorism agents, including ricin, Shiga-like toxin 1 (SLT-1), and anthrax, from serum and whole blood. The platform allows the development of immunoassays which are rapid (<20 minute) and sensitive (subpicomolar limit of detection) while maintaining a simple one-step assay format with no on- or off-disc sample preparation. Precipitation of microparticles through the density medium and into the focused channel tip both concentrates the signal and thoroughly washes the particles increasing signal-to-noise.