POC Test Based on Quantum Dots Detects Antibody Responses
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 31 Oct 2019 |
|
Image: The Holomics Reader HRDR-300 mobile device was used to measure fluorescent intensity of the quantum dots complex after lateral migration of patient serum (Photo courtesy of Medical College of Georgia).
Point-of-care (POC) assays, which can be performed at or near the site of care with a rapid turnaround time, are pivotal to transforming global disease control efforts, particularly in resource-constrained settings where access to laboratory facilities is limited.
Cysticercosis is an infection caused by the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. When larval cysts form in the human brain known as neurocysticercosis (NCC), they can result in seizures and other neurologic disorders. NCC affects those living in endemic and non-endemic countries, with an estimated more than 18,000 hospitalizations in the USA between 2003 and 2012.
Medical scientists at the Medical College of Georgia (Athens, GA, USA) and their international colleagues examined 112 positive human sera from patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) including samples from 18 patients with single viable cyst, 71 patients with two or more viable cysts, and 23 patients with subarachnoid (racemose) cysts. Definitive diagnosis of the subject was established by computed-tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging.
To test the specificity of the assay, the team evaluated a panel of serum samples obtained from 24 patients with other infections and 128 serum samples from persons in the USA and Egypt who had not traveled outside their country, and therefore were presumed negative for cysticercosis. The scientists developed a novel and portable fluorescent sensor that integrates a lateral flow assay with a quantum dot (Qdots) label and a mobile phone reader for detection of specific antibodies in human serum. They evaluated the utility of this assay to test for antibodies to the Taenia solium rT24H antigen.
The team read the lateral flow assay after 30 minutes, using the Holomics Reader HRDR-30. The investigators reported that the assay specificity in the negative panel was 99% (95%–100%) while assay sensitivity was 89% (79%–95%) in NCC patients with two or more viable cysts. The assay has performance characteristics similar to those of traditional platforms for the detection of NCC and shows promise as a mobile phone reader-based point-of-care test for antibody detection. The study was published on October 7, 2019, in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Related Links:
Medical College of Georgia
Cysticercosis is an infection caused by the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. When larval cysts form in the human brain known as neurocysticercosis (NCC), they can result in seizures and other neurologic disorders. NCC affects those living in endemic and non-endemic countries, with an estimated more than 18,000 hospitalizations in the USA between 2003 and 2012.
Medical scientists at the Medical College of Georgia (Athens, GA, USA) and their international colleagues examined 112 positive human sera from patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) including samples from 18 patients with single viable cyst, 71 patients with two or more viable cysts, and 23 patients with subarachnoid (racemose) cysts. Definitive diagnosis of the subject was established by computed-tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging.
To test the specificity of the assay, the team evaluated a panel of serum samples obtained from 24 patients with other infections and 128 serum samples from persons in the USA and Egypt who had not traveled outside their country, and therefore were presumed negative for cysticercosis. The scientists developed a novel and portable fluorescent sensor that integrates a lateral flow assay with a quantum dot (Qdots) label and a mobile phone reader for detection of specific antibodies in human serum. They evaluated the utility of this assay to test for antibodies to the Taenia solium rT24H antigen.
The team read the lateral flow assay after 30 minutes, using the Holomics Reader HRDR-30. The investigators reported that the assay specificity in the negative panel was 99% (95%–100%) while assay sensitivity was 89% (79%–95%) in NCC patients with two or more viable cysts. The assay has performance characteristics similar to those of traditional platforms for the detection of NCC and shows promise as a mobile phone reader-based point-of-care test for antibody detection. The study was published on October 7, 2019, in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Related Links:
Medical College of Georgia
Gold Member
Hybrid Pipette
SWITCH
New
Gold Member
Clinical Drug Testing Panel
DOA Urine MultiPlex
Homocysteine Quality Control
Liquichek Homocysteine Control
Latest Microbiology News
- Comprehensive Review Identifies Gut Microbiome Signatures Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease
- AI-Powered Platform Enables Rapid Detection of Drug-Resistant C. Auris Pathogens
- New Test Measures How Effectively Antibiotics Kill Bacteria
- New Antimicrobial Stewardship Standards for TB Care to Optimize Diagnostics
- New UTI Diagnosis Method Delivers Antibiotic Resistance Results 24 Hours Earlier
- Breakthroughs in Microbial Analysis to Enhance Disease Prediction
- Blood-Based Diagnostic Method Could Identify Pediatric LRTIs
- Rapid Diagnostic Test Matches Gold Standard for Sepsis Detection
- Rapid POC Tuberculosis Test Provides Results Within 15 Minutes
- Rapid Assay Identifies Bloodstream Infection Pathogens Directly from Patient Samples
- Blood-Based Molecular Signatures to Enable Rapid EPTB Diagnosis
- 15-Minute Blood Test Diagnoses Life-Threatening Infections in Children
- High-Throughput Enteric Panels Detect Multiple GI Bacterial Infections from Single Stool Swab Sample
- Fast Noninvasive Bedside Test Uses Sugar Fingerprint to Detect Fungal Infections
- Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic Device to Enable Personalized Critical Care for ICU Patients
- Microfluidic Platform Assesses Neutrophil Function in Sepsis Patients
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New PSA-Based Prognostic Model Improves Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among American men, and about one in eight will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Screening relies on blood levels of prostate-specific antigen... Read more
Extracellular Vesicles Linked to Heart Failure Risk in CKD Patients
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 1 in 7 Americans and is strongly associated with cardiovascular complications, which account for more than half of deaths among people with CKD.... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Blood Test Detects Early-Stage Cancers by Measuring Epigenetic Instability
Early-stage cancers are notoriously difficult to detect because molecular changes are subtle and often missed by existing screening tools. Many liquid biopsies rely on measuring absolute DNA methylation... Read more
“Lab-On-A-Disc” Device Paves Way for More Automated Liquid Biopsies
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny particles released by cells into the bloodstream that carry molecular information about a cell’s condition, including whether it is cancerous. However, EVs are highly... Read more
Blood Test Identifies Inflammatory Breast Cancer Patients at Increased Risk of Brain Metastasis
Brain metastasis is a frequent and devastating complication in patients with inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive subtype with limited treatment options. Despite its high incidence, the biological... Read more
Two-in-One DNA Analysis Improves Diagnostic Accuracy While Saving Time and Costs
Diagnosing developmental disorders often relies on DNA sequence analysis, but this approach can miss epigenetic context such as DNA methylation, chemical modifications that regulate whether genes are transcribed.... Read moreHematology
view channel
New Guidelines Aim to Improve AL Amyloidosis Diagnosis
Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, life-threatening bone marrow disorder in which abnormal amyloid proteins accumulate in organs. Approximately 3,260 people in the United States are diagnosed... Read more
Fast and Easy Test Could Revolutionize Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusions are a cornerstone of modern medicine, yet red blood cells can deteriorate quietly while sitting in cold storage for weeks. Although blood units have a fixed expiration date, cells from... Read more
Automated Hemostasis System Helps Labs of All Sizes Optimize Workflow
High-volume hemostasis sections must sustain rapid turnaround while managing reruns and reflex testing. Manual tube handling and preanalytical checks can strain staff time and increase opportunities for error.... Read more
High-Sensitivity Blood Test Improves Assessment of Clotting Risk in Heart Disease Patients
Blood clotting is essential for preventing bleeding, but even small imbalances can lead to serious conditions such as thrombosis or dangerous hemorrhage. In cardiovascular disease, clinicians often struggle... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Comprehensive Review Identifies Gut Microbiome Signatures Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 6.7 million people in the United States and nearly 50 million worldwide, yet early cognitive decline remains difficult to characterize. Increasing evidence suggests... Read more
AI-Powered Platform Enables Rapid Detection of Drug-Resistant C. Auris Pathogens
Infections caused by the pathogenic yeast Candida auris pose a significant threat to hospitalized patients, particularly those with weakened immune systems or those who have invasive medical devices.... Read more
Pathology
view channel
First-Of-Its-Kind Test Identifies Autism Risk at Birth
Autism spectrum disorder is treatable, and extensive research shows that early intervention can significantly improve cognitive, social, and behavioral outcomes. Yet in the United States, the average age... Read more
AI Algorithms Improve Genetic Mutation Detection in Cancer Diagnostics
Accurately identifying genetic mutations is central to cancer diagnostics and genomic research, but current methods struggle with complex sequencing data and limited clinical samples. Tumor analysis often... Read more
Technology
view channel
Robotic Technology Unveiled for Automated Diagnostic Blood Draws
Routine diagnostic blood collection is a high‑volume task that can strain staffing and introduce human‑dependent variability, with downstream implications for sample quality and patient experience.... Read more
ADLM Launches First-of-Its-Kind Data Science Program for Laboratory Medicine Professionals
Clinical laboratories generate billions of test results each year, creating a treasure trove of data with the potential to support more personalized testing, improve operational efficiency, and enhance patient care.... Read more
Aptamer Biosensor Technology to Transform Virus Detection
Rapid and reliable virus detection is essential for controlling outbreaks, from seasonal influenza to global pandemics such as COVID-19. Conventional diagnostic methods, including cell culture, antigen... Read more
AI Models Could Predict Pre-Eclampsia and Anemia Earlier Using Routine Blood Tests
Pre-eclampsia and anemia are major contributors to maternal and child mortality worldwide, together accounting for more than half a million deaths each year and leaving millions with long-term health complications.... Read moreIndustry
view channel
New Collaboration Brings Automated Mass Spectrometry to Routine Laboratory Testing
Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that identifies and quantifies molecules based on their mass and electrical charge. Its high selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy make it indispensable... Read more
AI-Powered Cervical Cancer Test Set for Major Rollout in Latin America
Noul Co., a Korean company specializing in AI-based blood and cancer diagnostics, announced it will supply its intelligence (AI)-based miLab CER cervical cancer diagnostic solution to Mexico under a multi‑year... Read more
Diasorin and Fisher Scientific Enter into US Distribution Agreement for Molecular POC Platform
Diasorin (Saluggia, Italy) has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Fisher Scientific, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA, USA), for the LIAISON NES molecular point-of-care... Read more