SBIR Phase I: An Automated Water Pathogen Monitoring System

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发一种连续、快速检测的水监测设备，以识别水中的潜在病原体。 该器械将结合免疫测定和电化学检测。 其优点是检测速度快，能够自动化程序。第一阶段项目将确定建立一个概念验证系统来监测水中寄生虫隐孢子虫的可行性。微小隐孢子虫对常见抗生素没有反应，并且抵抗水净化处理。 第一阶段项目的目标是在不需要人工样品浓缩步骤的情况下，对每升100个微生物的病原体浓度的检测时间少于4小时，该项目的最初商业应用将是监测饮用水中的病原体。 其他应用将包括测试水的分配网络，并在装瓶和包装设施。 该设备最终可以适用于紧急现场使用，供具有安全意识的消费者家庭使用，以及用于医疗，工业，娱乐和战斗目的。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to develop a continuous, rapid- detection water-monitoring device to identify potential pathogens in water. This device will incorporate immunoassay coupled with electrochemical detection. The advantages are the speed of detection and the ability to automate the procedure. This Phase I project will determine the feasibility of creating a proof-of-concept system to monitor water for the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Cryptosporidium parvum does not respond to common antibiotics and resists water purification treatments. The objective of the Phase I project is to show detection time of less than 4 hrs for pathogen concentrations of the order of 100 organisms per liter without the need for manual sample concentration steps.The initial commercial application of this project will be in the monitoring of drinking water supplies for pathogens. Additional applications would include testing of water in distribution networks, and at bottling and packaging facilities. The device could eventually be adapted for emergency field use, for home use by safety conscious consumers, and for medical, industrial, recreational and combat purposes.