Continuous Immunoassay for the Accurate Detection of Low Vapor Pressure TICs

There is a clear and growing need to detect and monitor for highly dangerous releases of toxic industrial compounds (TICs) for the protection of the general public. Current detection and monitoring devices are not adequate to protect against unwanted releases of low vapor TICs because of the high detection sensitivity required. Intelligent Optical Systems (IOS) proposes to provide an improved new generation of point detectors to warn of the presence of low vapor pressure TICs. These point detectors will be based on an emerging IOS technology that uses continuous membrane displacement immunoassay and that has been shown to provide highly sensitive detection of organic pollutants in water. High sensitivity is achieved by using innovative methods to concentrate the target analyte and by employing highly luminescent Quantum Dot labels for detection. This technology will be extended to the detection of vapor phase low volatility TICs through the addition of an efficient air sampling system coupled with an innovative flow assay system. The advantages of this methodology will be demonstrated via the design and evaluation of a laboratory prototype point detection instrument. In Phase II, the methodology will be expanded to enable simultaneous assay of multiple chemical agents.