Portable Scaled Sample Preparation Device for Concentration and Recovery of Bacterial Contaminants

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Project Summary The overall goal of this SBIR project is to establish the technical feasibility for commercialization of a patent-pending sample preparation technology that concentrates and recovers microbial contaminants from appropriately scaled water samples. The proposed product is affordable, versatile, reusable, portable, and automated device with no moving parts, suitable for on-site or in-field sample preparation. Recovered eluents resulted from the sample preparation can be delivered into microscale tests. Phase I Specific aims are to evaluate the feasibility of developing a portable automated sample preparation device that can be scaled up to process larger volume samples, develop ready-to-use buffer concentrates for improving concentration and recovery of bacteria, and obtain a proof of concept for detecting low levels of bacterial contaminants, by combination of the proposed sample preparation device and rapid molecular test. In addition to outbreaks linked to recreational and drinking water, produce and food contaminations by pathogens from irrigation and other agricultural water are an increasing concern. Early detection and routine surveillance is of paramount importance for effective management of water or foodborne infectious diseases. However, current standard practices are time consuming, largely due to the requirement of extensive sample preparation. The proposed technology would be able to overcome major limitations of conventional sample preparation methods, enable detection of low levels of bacteria in different water or liquid sample types, and expand the widespread and meaningful use of rapid, portable detection platforms.