title: Rapid detection of human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 by use of an improved piezoelectric biosensor.
abstract: Disasters can create situations in which blood donations can save lives. However, in emergency situations and when resources are depleted, on-site blood donations require the rapid and accurate detection of blood-borne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2). Techniques such as PCR and antibody capture by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for HIV-1 and HIV-2 are precise but time-consuming and require sophisticated equipment that is not compatible with emergency point-of-care requirements. We describe here a prototype biosensor based on piezoelectric materials functionalized with specific antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2. We show the rapid and accurate detection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in both simple and complex solutions, including human serum, and in the presence of a cross-confounding virus. We report detection limits of 12 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID50s) for HIV-1 and 87 TCID50s for HIV-2. The accuracy, precision of measurements, and operation of the prototype biosensor compared favorably to those for nucleic acid amplification. We conclude that the biosensor has significant promise as a successful point-of-care diagnostic device for use in emergency field applications requiring rapid and reliable testing for blood-borne pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. mbisoffi@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bisoffi
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Severns
authors.forename: Darren W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: Thayne L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014773:Virology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*