title: Evaluating 6 ricin field detection assays.
abstract: This study presents data showing the performance of 6 commercial detection assays against ricin around concentrations specified as detection limits by the producers. A 2-fold dilution series of 20 ng/ml ricin was prepared and used for testing the lateral-flow kits: BADD, Pro Strips™, ENVI, RAID DX, Ricin BioThreat Alert, and IMASS™ device. Three of the 6 tested field assays (IMASS™ device, ENVI assay, and the BioThreat Alert assay) were able to detect ricin, although differences in the measured detection limits compared to the official detection limits and false-negative results were observed. We were not able to get the BADD, Pro Strips™, and RAID assays to function in our laboratory. We conclude that when purchasing a field responder assay, there is large variation in the specificity of the assays, and a number of in-house tests must be performed to ensure functionality.
authors: Hans-Christian
authors: HC
authors: Slotved
authors: Nadja
authors: N
authors: Sparding
authors: Julia Tanas
authors: JT
authors: Tanassi
authors: Nina R
authors: NR
authors: Steenhard
authors: Niels H H
authors: NH
authors: Heegaard
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051337:Chemical Terrorism; D057230:Limit of Detection; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012276:Ricin / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012276:Ricin