THE SENSITIVITY OF A NEW IMMUNOANALYSIS OF SMALL VOLUME RAW SPECIMENS

THIS PROJECT INVESTIGATES THE SENSITIVITY OF A NEW METHOD OF IMMUNOANALYSIS TO DETERMINE ITS APPLICABILITY FOR USE IN A SPACECRAFT ENVIRONMENT. ITS CHARACTERISTICS ARE: USE OF UNPROCESSED SPECIMENS (E.G., WHOLE BLOOD AND SALIVA),A SAMPLE VOLUME OF 3 MICROLITERS, MULTIPLE DETERMINATIONS PER SPECIMEN, AND INSENSITIVITY TO SAMPLE VOLUME. THE SIZE OF A TEST KIT WILL BE ONLY 1/4 CC; IT WILL HAVE A MINIMUM OFMANUAL OPERATIONS; AND IT WILL NOT REQUIRE A SEPARATION OF BLOOD FROM UNBOUND ANTIGEN/ANTIBODY. THE FLUORESCENT TAGGEDREAGENTS HAVE A VERY LONG SHELF LIFE. THE INSTRUMENT FOR READING OUT THE FLUORESCENCE MAY BE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LARGE POCKET CALCULATOR. THESE CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH ENABLE IMMUNOASSAY TO BE PERFORMED IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, ARE IDEAL FOR THE SPACE CRAFT ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION, EVERY STEP OF THE ASSAY CAN OPERATE IN ZERO GRAVITY. THE VARIETY OF ASSAYS POSSIBLE INCLUDE HORMONES AND INFECTIOUS AGENTS.