FOODsniffer – low-cost and highly portable lab-on-a-chip biosensor

FOODsniffer presented its patented, low-cost and highly portable lab-on-a-chip biosensor, which detects chemicals, infections, toxins, proteins and genetic mutations in plant and animal samples. The FOODsniffer biosensor is field-deployable and simple to use, comprising an all-silicon, fully integrated optoelectronic platform implementing interferometry for highly sensitive label-free multi-analyte detection. The light sources and sensing elements within immobilized antibodies are all on a single chip and used in single-shot cartridges. The device is controlled by a smartphone that sends the geo-tagged analysis results to the Internet cloud during the on-the-spot analysis. FOODsniffer is a complete business solution for field-based detection of harmful species at very low concentrations and, accordingly, has the potential to revolutionize numerous aspects of agriculture.
http://www.nfia.com/fft/201302/Articles/small-bites-8.html

An important use would be for an allergy sufferer who wanted to test for the occurrence of a dangerous level of a particular allergen in their food. This would especially be useful if they were travelling or eating in an unusual or high-risk location.
If you were a vegetarian or someone who only wanted to consume organic foods, you could use such a device to test for the presence of certain common meat proteins or residues of pesticides (which are forbidden in organic agriculture).
Anyone who was concerned about the variety of the grapes in their fine wines, or the variety of their produce or meat might use such a device to determine the variety. This is determined by DNA analysis.
If you were concerned about GMO, the device could be configured to detect many different types of transgenes in a food sample.
http://www.foodsniffer.eu/?page_id=271

Smartphone Device Detects HIV, Syphilis

http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20150204/smartphone-device-detects-hiv-syphilis

The low-cost device can spot markers of the infectious diseases from a finger prick of blood in 15 minutes. It’s the first smartphone accessory that replicates all the functions of a laboratory-based blood test, according to the researchers.
…
“This is a new technology that uses smartphones to detect antibodies against HIV and syphilis. Although an encouraging development, there are significant limitations, such as comparison with confirmatory tests in standardized laboratories,” said Dr. Ambreen Khalil, an infectious disease specialist at Staten Island University Hospital, in Staten Island, N.Y.
…
The device — called a dongle — is small and light enough to fit into a hand, uses little power and will cost about $34 to make, according to the researchers.

Full Webmd Article

Status of laboratories deployed in the affected countries to support the Ebola outbreak response

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/situation-reports/en/

South Gloucestershire patient rushed to hospital tests negative for Ebola

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/South-Gloucestershire-patient-rushed-hospital/story-25803079-detail/story.html

It is understood the patient has recently flown into the UK from South Africa after previously spending time in Ebola stricken Sierra Leone.

The patient tested for Ebola was picked up by an ambulance team from South Cerney, South Gloucestershire, after displaying symptoms of the illness.

CA- Winnipeggers at front lines of Ebola outbreak

http://globalnews.ca/news/1734995/winnipeggers-at-front-lines-of-ebola-outbreak/

No Canadians have contracted the deadly virus since the recent outbreak in West Africa, but there are still many Winnipeggers working closely with it, either overseas or at home.

Since the outbreak, researchers from the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg have traveled to West Africa to help contain the spread.

Currently there is a team of four in Kailahun, Sierra Leone. They work from mobile laboratories, equipped to detect and kill the virus(??).

Microbiologist Dr. Jim Strong was one of the researches who worked overseas. “We’re right where the patients are,” says Dr. Strong. “We see the patients from where we’re doing the lab work. They get their results from the time we get the blood sample to the time they get their results is about three hours.”

Community based fluid specimen collection and analysis

http://www.goviralstudy.com/

GoViral is studying how community viral diagnostic information and symptom information combined can be used to understand an individual’s risk of influenza. We would like you to provide you with an easy to use flu test you can use at home if you are sick.

GoViral Saliva Sample Instructions

GoViral Nasal Swab Instructions

Decentralised testing centres equipped with miniPCR kits and self/community collected samples from the sick. These serve as monitoring stations/hubs for existing diseases and future (expected) outbreaks.

The medical and government professionals seeking real benefit for their communities will be keen on this modest detection system

A paper diagnostic for cancer

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/a-paper-diagnostic-for-cancer-0224

The technology, developed by MIT professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Sangeeta Bhatia, relies on nanoparticles that interact with tumor proteins called proteases, each of which can trigger release of hundreds of biomarkers that are then easily detectable in a patient’s urine

This could be modified for various other applications such as Ebola, malaria, Lassa fever, Dengue and by the Kenyan Health authority to detect contaminants like b-HCG in the Tetanus vaccines or other vaccines.

Introducing the miniPCR machine

http://www.minipcr.com/Order/mini8/
miniPCR mini8
$799.00
Note: This is NOT an affiliate link or an endorsement. This is purely informational. West African Universities, NGOS or governments wishing to be self reliant in detecting Ebola and future biological attacks must cost effectively build that capability.

Age of Bioterrorism: Are You Prepared? Review of Bioweapons and Their Clinical Presentation for Otolaryngologists.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24757076

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This review on Category A bioweapons is intended to help otolaryngologists (1) understand the concepts of bioterrorism, (2) identify a bioterrorism attack, and (3) recognize specific otolaryngologic symptoms and signs of Category A bioweapons.

DATA SOURCES:

PubMed and Medline databases.

REVIEW METHODS:

Review of current literature regarding Category A agents of biological warfare and their relationships to otolaryngology was performed using PubMed, Medline, and articles written by experts in the field of bioterrorism. Each Category A agent was paired with the term otolaryngology and then paired with epistaxis, sinusitis, airway obstruction, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, hearing loss, otitis media, and lymphadenopathy individually. For the latest accepted treatment and diagnostic strategies, bioterrorism was searched with filters for human studies, English language, and the past 5 years. Titles, abstracts, and papers were read for relevancy.

CONCLUSION:

While the use of bioweapons initially leads to nonspecific symptoms, a high index of suspicion and clustering of abnormal pathology will often lead the astute physician to the correct diagnosis of bioweapons. Some disease presentations of Category A agents (anthrax, smallpox, tularemia, botulism, plague, hemorrhagic fever) will involve the realm of otolaryngology( Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:

The head and neck manifestations of a Category A bioweapon attack will require knowledgeable otolaryngologists for prompt diagnosis, treatment, and notification of public authorities. This will help decrease the morbidity and mortality of any potential bioterrorism attack.

© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2014.

KEYWORDS
Category A agents; anthrax; bioterrorism; bioweapons; botulism; hemorrhagic fevers; plague; smallpox; tularemia

CDC – Laboratory diagnosis of Ebola virus disease

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/diagnosis/
Ebola virus is detected in blood only after onset of symptoms, most notably fever, which accompany the rise in circulating virus within the patient’s body. It may take up to three days after symptoms start for the virus to reach detectable levels. Laboratory tests used in diagnosis include:

Timeline of Infection	Diagnostic tests available
Within a few days after symptoms begin	Antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing IgM ELISA Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Virus isolation
Later in disease course or after recovery	IgM and IgG antibodies
Retrospectively in deceased patients	Immunohistochemistry testing PCR Virus isolation