Hirokazu Saito

Fiber-Optic Fluoroimmunoassay System with a Flow-Through Cell for Rapid On-Site Determination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by Monitoring Fluorescence Dynamics

Dynamic fluoroimmunoassay with a flow-through system using optical fiber probes consisting of polystyrene was developed and applied to a quantitative detection of E. coli O157:H7. The system measures E. coli as fluorescence of sandwich-type immune complexes formed by capture antibodies immobilized on the surface of the probe, E. coli cells, and fluorescently labeled detection antibodies. Excitation was carried out using an evanescent wave from the probe. Resulting fluorescence recoupled into the probe was detected by a photodiode. The assay system was constructed with a flow cell which was available for sequential injection of experimental reagents. In vitro characterization was performed using the flow cell, and the calibration range of E. coli O157:H7 was from 103 to 107 cells/mL. The measurement for each sample was completed within 12 min. Furthermore, it was also possible to estimate the concentrations of E. coli O157:H7 by the increasing rate of fluorescence during binding reaction of detection antibodies to antigens. This minimized the time for measurement down to 6 min. The system is suitable for rapid and direct determination for microorganisms or bacteria in food, clinical, and environmental sources.

P3.4 - A computer controlled venepuncture system for blood test

In clinical situation, blood sampling is frequently performed for blood test. Recently, most procedures of blood test have been automated and the test system is developing on a chip-sized structure such as μ-TAS. Achievement of complete automatic blood test system combined with venepuncture device and blood test system would bring decrease of blood sampling volume and realization of home blood test [1]. As an automatic venepuncture device, we developed a control system of needle puncture that measured force and electric impedance acting on a needle tip. To obtain information that the needle tip pierced into the blood vessel, the changes in puncture force and electric impedance were evaluated [2, 3].