Apparatus and method for performing microorganism detection
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsZhonghui Hugh Fan, Xiao Jiang, Trevor B. Tilly, John Lednicky, Chang-Yu Wu
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for performing detection of microorganisms (e.g., viruses) with high sensitivity. The apparatus and method are well suited for point-of-care (POC) testing in resource-limited regions and are capable of being operated with very little manual intervention and without the need for lab equipment. A variety of viruses can be detected with high sensitivity, including, for example, coronaviruses, Zika virus and flu viruses.
Claims20
An apparatus for preparing a sample for use in detecting microorganisms comprising:
- a collector unit having at least a first reservoir for holding at least a first liquid sample;
- a buffer unit includes at least second, third and fourth reservoirs for holding at least second, third and fourth liquids, respectively;
- a mechanical coupling mechanism that couples the collector unit and the buffer unit together in a manner that allows a user to create relative movement between the collector unit and the buffer unit by exerting a force on at least one of the buffer unit and the collector unit;
- and
- a valve mechanism that causes the second, third and fourth liquids to be released from the second, third and fourth reservoirs, respectively, into the first reservoir, in turn, when the user creates relative movement between the collector unit and the buffer unit to cause the second, third and fourth reservoirs to come into temporary alignment with the first reservoir for respective time periods.
A method for preparing a sample to be used for detecting microorganisms comprising:
- placing a first liquid sample in at least a first reservoir of a collector unit of a microorganism detecting apparatus;
- placing at least second, third and fourth liquids in at least second, third and fourth reservoirs, respectively, of a buffer unit of the microorganism detecting apparatus, wherein the collector unit and the buffer unit are coupled together by a mechanical coupling mechanism in a manner that allows a user to create relative movement between the collector unit and the buffer unit by exerting a manual force on at least one of the buffer unit and the collector unit;
- and
- exerting the manual force on at least one of the buffer unit and the collector unit to create relative movement between the collector unit and the buffer unit to cause the second, third and fourth reservoirs to come into temporary alignment with the first reservoir for respective time periods, wherein a valve mechanism of the microorganism detecting apparatus causes the second, third and fourth liquids to be released from the second, third and fourth reservoirs, respectively, into the first reservoir, in turn, when the manual force is exerted to cause the second, third and fourth reservoirs to come into temporary alignment with the first reservoir for respective time periods.
A method for preparing a sample for use in detecting microorganisms, the method comprising:
- collecting and holding at least a first liquid sample;
- allowing the first liquid sample to interact with at least a second liquid to cause nucleic acids to be released from the first liquid sample;
- concentrating nucleic acids that have been released from the first liquid sample;
- washing the concentrated nucleic acids using at least third and fourth liquids;
- amplifying the concentrated nucleic acids at an isothermal temperature to produce amplified products;
- and
- detecting the amplified products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.