An immunochromatographic test for the diagnosis of ricin inhalational poisoning.
BACKGROUND
Aerosolized ricin is a feared bioweapon for which no diagnostic protocol is currently available.


METHODS
We obtained antibodies to develop an immunochromatographic test (ICT) that would be part of such a protocol.


RESULTS
Our ICT, that can be read with the naked eye, has a sensitivity of 1 ng ricin/mL buffer, without enhancement, making it the most sensitive rapid test available for this toxin as far as we know. Its dynamic range extends to 10 microg/mL, with a plateau from 10 to at least 250 microg/mL (no "hook effect"), and it has limited cross-reactivity with other lectins.


CONCLUSIONS
Calculated from experimental and animal data, sampling with nasal swabs and testing with the devised ICT should give more than a thousand times the sensitivity required to diagnose ricin inhalational poisoning. Such a margin is particularly valuable in the absence of clinical data.


CONCLUSIONS
This cost-effective and easy to use diagnostic tool could assist in the diagnosis of inhalational exposure from ricin aerosols.
Guglielmo-Viret
Valérie
V
Antibody Technology Group, Biology of Transmissible Agents Department, Centre de Recherche du Service de Santé des Armées, La Tronche, France.
Splettstoesser
Wolf
W
Thullier
Philippe
P
D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D012276:Ricin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000506:poisoning; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000336:Aerosols; D000906:Antibodies; D012276:Ricin