title: Fluorogenic hand-held immunoassay for the identification of ricin: rapid analyte measurement platform.
abstract: Rapid analyte measurement platform (RAMPtrade mark) fluorogenic hand-held immunoassays (HHAs) were evaluated for inclusivity/sensitivity, exclusivity/specificity, sample matrix effects, ruggedness/stability, and reproducibility in detection of ricin (RCA(60)), a potential biological threat agent. The limit of detection of HHAs for RCA(60) was 14 ng/mL or approximately 140 pg/test. HHAs were inclusive in detection of ricin RCA(60), RCA(120), ricin A chain, and ricin B chain and exclusive in discrimination of RCA(60) from other toxins. None of the sample matrices tested affected assay performance. RAMPtrade mark ratios were tolerant of increases in sample volume, however, a decrease in sample volume of 25% resulted in significantly increased readings. RAMPtrade mark readings were highly reproducible lot-to-lot, cartridge-to-cartridge, day-to-day, and reader-to-reader.
authors.affiliation: Defence Research and Development Canada-Suffield. Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. elaine.fulton@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D005453:Fluorescence; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012276:Ricin / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012276:Ricin