The development of a microcytometer for rapid detection and identification of foodborne pathogens

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High-throughput detection and identification of foodborne pathogens are in increasing demand for rapid bacteria detections in food safety monitoring. A low-cost, robust, reliable and high-throughput bacteria detection cytometry is especially important for food safety authorities to quickly identify and respond to events such as foodborne disease outbreaks and bioterrorist attacks on our food supply chains. To this end, we propose a microfluidic-based microchip flow cytometer (i.e. microcytometer), a diagnostic device for rapid pathogenic bacteria identification and detection. The proposed microcytometry integrates all major food pathogen detecting functions, which are currently handled in off-site food safety microbiology laboratories, into a low-cost and disposable credit card-sized microcytometry chip. This microcytometer is built upon microfluidic technologies to first react food samples with fluorescently-labeled antibodies, and subsequently detect the labeled cells when they flow in single file through engineered microfluidic channels. While the initial reaction will allow the fluorescently-labeled antibodies to recognize and bind to the targeted pathogenic bacteria in the food sample with high specificity, the latter will enable automatic detection of the labeled cells using laser technology.