title: Multiplexed liquid arrays for simultaneous detection of simulants of biological warfare agents.
abstract: Liquid array-based multiplexed immunoassays designed for rapid, sensitive, specific, and simultaneous detection of multiple simulants of biological warfare agents have been developed. In both blind and standard laboratory trials, we demonstrate the simultaneous detection of four simulant agents from a single sample. The challenge agents comprise broad classes of pathogens (virus, protein toxins, bacterial spores, vegetative cells). Assay performance of each analyte was optimized, and dose-response curves and the limits of detection (LODs) for individual analytes are presented. Assay performance, including dynamic range, sensitivity, and LODs for liquid arrays and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay were compared and are shown to be similar. Maximum assay sensitivity is obtained in approximately 1 h, and good sensitivity is achieved in as little as 30 min. Although the sample matrixes are very complex, even for highly multiplexed assays the samples do not exhibit evidence of nonspecific binding, demonstrating that the assays also have high specificity.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gammon
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitesky
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aldrich
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colston
authors.forename: Kodumudi S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Venkateswaran
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000379:methods / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007118:Immunoassay; D008863:Microspheres; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D014118:Toxins, Biological