Thursday, July 7, 2011

Simple, fast anthrax detector described

Simple, fast anthrax detector described: "U.S. researchers say a new automatic and portable detector can signal the presence of anthrax in a sample of suspected material in 15 minutes.

Scientists at the University at Albany and Cornell University in New York said the new technology amplifies any anthrax DNA present in the sample and can reveal the presence of just 40 microscopic cells of the deadly bacteria.

The device is a so-called lab-on-a-chip device that has inputs for the sample and reagents and can carry out DNA purification and identification automatically."