Biosensor Provides Improved Ricin Detection

An improved cartridge has been produced for a ricin handheld detector that virtually eliminates false-positive results.

Ricin is a protein derived from the bean of the castor oil plant. It is a potent toxin that has the potential to be used as an agent of biologic warfare and as a weapon of mass destruction.

The detection system is simple, robust, and reliable and was designed for civilian and military first responders, hospital triage personnel, and Haz Mat (hazardous material) personnel. This QTL Biosensor 2000 from QTL Biosystems (Sante Fe, NM, USA) includes tests for toxins such as ricin, botulinum neurotoxin, Staphyloccocal enterotoxin B, pathogens such as anthrax spores, and other threatening agents.

The QTL technology is relatively sensitive, fast, simple, and easy to use, with low rates of false-positives and false-negatives. The QTL Biosensor was developed and tested in conjunction with the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Command (Washington, DC, USA) to validate its performance specifications. It has also been rigorously tested by third party agencies to validate its performance. Richard Troiano, CEO of QTL Biosystems, noted, "The QTL Biosensor provides a reliable ‘Yes' or ‘No' answer to a field responder in less than five minutes without the risk of the high degree of false-positives seen in lateral flow assays.”

QTL Biosystems produces enzyme activity and protein binding assays for the pharmaceutical and life sciences markets, and Biosensor Systems for first responders, medical triage personnel, and military users. Bioassay products have been developed for the detection of viruses, toxins, bacteria, proteins, hormones, nucleic acids, and other biologic compounds. The company's novel technologies integrate its expertise in chemistry, molecular and cell biology, and instrumentation.



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