Omnidetect: a multiplexed portable detection platform enables culture-free enrichment and amplification to detect all types of foodborne pathogens

U.S. military personnel deployed remote areas are in high risk of foodborne diseases by consuming local foods and water. FDAÆs standard microbiological testing methods, including culture-based and PCR, are time-consuming and require tests in laboratories. Food is a complex matrix which requires sample pretreatment and separation which cause pathogen loss and additional purification step is required to remove inhibitors. Foods can be contaminated by multiple types of pathogens incidentally or intentionally. Additionally, assay reagents used in nucleic acid-based tests, e.g. polymerase, require cold-chain transportation and storage. Currently no commercial rapid testing methods can meet all the requirements of in-field rapid and sensitive detection of multiple bacteria, virus, parasite food pathogens simultaneously to protect warfighters deployed in areas with restricted logistical capability to supply and store testing reagents. Zymeron develops a handheld integrated platform (OmnidetectÖ) to simultaneously detect multiple pathogen species from bacteria, virus, and parasite in food for approximately 40 minutes by integrating lab-on-chip technology and isothermal nucleic acid amplification rapid detection technology.