Multiplex RT-PCR suspension array assays provide a powerful tool for identifying the causative agent(s) of respiratory infections. These assays are time consuming and laborious on a time-per-sample basis if only a few samples require processing. To address this shortcoming and provide an automated solution for fast detection and identification of viral pathogens, we developed the…
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Environmental Monitoring for Biological Threat Agents Using the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System
John F. Regan, Anthony J. Makarewicz, Benjamin J. Hindson, Thomas R. Metz, Dora M. Gutierrez, Todd H. Corzett, Dean R. Hadley, Ryan C. Mahnke, Bruce D. Henderer, John W. Breneman IV, Todd H. Weisgraber, and John M. Dzenitis* Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550 We have developed and field-tested a now…
View PublicationBioWatch in a Box
BioWatch, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) environmental monitoring program, has been successfully operating in many of the nation’s urban centers since early 2003. This early warning environmental monitoring system can detect trace amounts of biological materials in the air, and has been used to provide information to assist public health experts determine whether…
View PublicationAutonomous Detection of Aerosolized Biological Agents by Multiplexed Immunoassay with Polymerase Chain Reaction Confirmation
Benjamin J. Hindson,† Mary T. McBride,† Anthony J. Makarewicz,† Bruce D. Henderer,† Ujwal S. Setlur,† Sally M. Smith,† Dora M. Gutierrez,† Thomas R. Metz,† Shanavaz L. Nasarabadi,† Kodumudi S. Venkateswaran,† Stephen W. Farrow,‡ Bill W. Colston, Jr.,† and John M. Dzenitis*,† The autonomous pathogen detection system (APDS) is an automated, podium-sized instrument that continuously monitors…
View PublicationAPDS: the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System
Benjamin J. Hindson, Anthony J. Makarewicz, Ujwal S. Setlur, Bruce D. Henderer, Mary T. McBride, John M. Dzenitis∗ We have developed and tested a fully autonomous pathogen detection system (APDS) capable of continuously monitoring the environment for airborne biological threat agents. The system was developed to provide early warning to civilians in the event of…
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