DISPOSABLE INSTRUMENTATION FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASES OF MILITARY IMPORTANCE

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO DEVELOP A RAPID SENSITIVE, AND PORTABLE DETECTION SYSTEM BY USING BIOLUMINESCENCE AS THE LABEL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF DISEASE-CAUSING AGENTS AS WELL AS THE DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE. BIOLUMINESCENT LABELS WHEN LINKED TO THE TARGETING AGENT (I.E. MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES OR DNA PROBES) OFFER EXTREME SENSITIVITY IN DETECTION AND THE ABILITY TO MONITOR AND MEASURE THE ASSAY WITH SMALL, LOW COST, PORTABLE DEVICES. AFTER IDENTIFYING THE AGENTS TO BE DETECTED, THE BIOLUMINESCENT DETECTION SYSTEM IS COVALENTLY ATTACHED TO THE BEST TARGETING AGENT THAT WILL GIVE SPEED AND SENSITIVITY. OPTIMIZATION OF THE TEST SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE DETERMINING THE BEST COVALENT LINKAGE FOR THE BIOLUMINESCENT LABEL TO THE TARGETING AGENT AND THE BEST CONCENTRATION OF REAGENTS TO PROMOTE SPEED AND SENSITIVITY. THE SPECIMEN FLUID USED WILL DICTATE THE SYSTEM'S APPROACH TO DETECTING THE DESIRED AGENT.