An Array-Based Sensor for the Detection of Toxic Industrial Materials

Development of single use, freeze-dried PCR reagents for use with the Idaho Technology Ruggedized Advanced Pathogen Identification Device (RAPIDT system) or other commercially available real-time PCR devices is proposed. These reagents will have extendedstability at ambient temperature thus allowing sensitive PCR methods to be used in non-laboratory environments for the rapid detection of biological agents. Preliminary results using freeze-dried reagents containing all the components required for a PCRreaction, including enzyme, oligonucleotide primers and fluorescently labeled probes have demonstrated the potential of the proposed system. These prototype reagents have already been successfully deployed with the RAPID in select USAir Force exercises.We propose to extend our work on the freeze-drying technology to maximize long-term reagent stability, maintain maximum fluorescent signal and implement protocols for the production of these reagents as a commercial product. It is anticipated that thesereagents can be launched in military and non-military markets for use with a variety of commercially available real-time PCR instrumentation.As PCR is validated and deployed for the detection of infectious and biowarfare agents, a substantial market forready-to-use reagents will be created. Idaho Technology can provide lyophilized, GMP compliant PCR reagents to support this need.