Portable System for Deployment Toxicology

The Phase I program at PSI has successfully met and exceeded its first goal by multiplexed assay of 12 cytokines in simulants and whole human saliva, at clinically significant concentrations as low as 5 pg/ml with microplate technology. A survey of the medical literature and communications with Dr. Wayne Ensign verified that the identity and concentrations of the cytokine assay was sufficient to diagnose immunological response to infection. The second goal was met by developing a complete design for a rugged and light weight microplate reader utilizing all commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. A Phase II program is proposed that will complete a small clinical study of saliva cytokine response to infection, make improvements to the microplate function and stability, complete the plate reader engineering and fabricate two prototypes. Specific advantages of the PSI approach are validation of the link from saliva cytokines to simple diagnosis, utilization of COTS components throughout, and the near-term prospect of a field worthy system for deployment to field hospitals. With Phase III development, diagnosis of chemical, biological and radiation exposure will be rapidly and accurately identified with diagnosis detail sufficient to know that there is a problem and distinguish stress from infection or other exposure.