Journal of
Medical Laboratory and Diagnosis

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Lab. Diagn.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2618
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMLD
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 60

Short Communication

Combination of cultivation and lateral flow assay for easy, highly sensitive and presumptive detection of Bacillus anthracis spores

Valérie Guglielmo-Viret
  • Valérie Guglielmo-Viret
  • Unité de biotechnologie des anticorps et des toxines, Département de microbiologie, Institut de recherche biomédicale des armées (IRBA-CRSSA), 24 avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38702 La Tronche, France.
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Nicholas J. Vietri
  • Nicholas J. Vietri
  • Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick MD, USA.
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Françoise Desor
  • Françoise Desor
  • Unité de biotechnologie des anticorps et des toxines, Département de microbiologie, Institut de recherche biomédicale des armées (IRBA-CRSSA), 24 avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38702 La Tronche, France.
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Philippe Thullier
  • Philippe Thullier
  • Unité de biotechnologie des anticorps et des toxines, Département de microbiologie, Institut de recherche biomédicale des armées (IRBA-CRSSA), 24 avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38702 La Tronche, France.
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  •  Accepted: 21 April 2011
  •  Published: 31 October 2011

Abstract

A combination of cultivation and lateral flow assay detecting protective antigen (PA) for easy and presumptive detection of Bacillus anthracis spores is proposed. This combination is similar to most approaches relying on PCR for detection of spores, as it begins with a 12 h cultivation step. After this culture however, this test is more rapid and far easier to perform than available molecular techniques. With a sensitivity of one spore per test (10 spores/ml), this combined test is amongst the most sensitive techniques while being very cost-effective. In addition, the principles behind this test may be applicable to the detection of other organisms. 

 

Key words: Lateral flow assays (LFA), protective antigen (PA), membrane test platform (MTP), decomplemented fetal calf serum (FCS).