Rapid Microbial Collection and Nucleic Acid Recovery Device

Background of Invention

The existing technology for collection of samples is paper based system called FTA.  The FTA technology is not soluble, which significantly limits its application in rapid disease dignostics. Another application consists in the direct use of sodium carboxy methyle cellulose cards (SCMC) with 96 wells printed (ELISA like format). This format is useful for storage of nucleic acids. The idea is, however, an improved adaptation from FTA technology.

Summary of Invention

The technology relates to generation of sampling devices that incorporate lateral flow technology. The sampling device collects fluidic specimens by contact through an absorbent pad. The absorbent fluid migrates by lateral flow chromatography through a second or middle material that helps separate the specimen fractions and cell debris by size. The incorporation of this middle material is optional because for some applications the separation of the specimen fractions and cell debris is not critical.

Potential Application of the Technology

• Sampling or collecting specimens for molecular-clinical diagnostics for health, veterinary, plant health biosecurity, forensics and food quality.
• Rapidly accelerates the time to prepare samples for PCR.

Main Advantages of the Technology

• The sampling device allows a rapid recovery of nucleic acids from small volumes of fluid in the laboratory or directly in the field or crime scene.
• Minute pieces of the soluble biomaterial are dissolved directly into end point (standard) or Real Time polymerase chain reaction mixtures, resulting in robust and rapid sampling procedure that reduces the need of tedious extraction protocols.

State of Development

This technology is currently passed the proof of concept stage of development.